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| Conflict |
The Israeli army attacks a Palestinian village near Nablus and kidnaps four civilians
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/31/2008
Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli army attacked the village of Beit Dajan, located near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on Thursday at dawn and kidnapped four civilians. Witnesses said that around ten military jeeps invaded the village in the early hours; troops searched and ransacked a number of homes before kidnapping four men and taking them to an unknown location. Local sources identified the four as; Sief Hanini, 19, his brother Ra’ed, Nasser Aby Ladeef, 19, and Mohamed Abu Hanish, 20. Residents reported that during the search the army made of their homes, troops detonated sound bombs inside, they added that soldiers left unexploded bombs inside the houses they searched during the attack. The army left the village on Thursday morning shortly after kidnapping the four men. more..
The army attack Jenin city and nearby village, troops kidnaps 6 family members of resistance men
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/31/2008
The Israeli army invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin and nearby Al Yamon village, during the attacks on Thursday morning, troops kidnapped six family members of Palestinian resistance fighters. In Al Yamon village, soldiers surrounded the house of Ahmad Nawahdah, 55, soldiers searched the house and forced the family out into the heavy rain for more than two hours. Witnesses said that after the army finished searching the house troops kidnapped Nawahdah along with three of his sons Jihad, Imad and Jad. The army claims that the Nawahdah family has a son that is part of the Islamic Jihad armed wing resistance group. Meanwhile Israeli troops attacked and searched the house of Amar Abu Ghaloiun, the army says he is also a member of the Islamic Jihad armed wing; troops again forced the family out into the rain and kidnapped two of his brothers, Nidal and Mohamed. more..
Israeli forces seize five Palestinians in the West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/31/2008
Bethlehem Ma’an Despite snow and hazardous weather conditions, Israeli military forces seized five more five Palestinians in the West Bank during overnight raids on Thursday. In the Nablus region, Palestinian security sources as said that seven Israeli military vehicles inavded the northern village of Beit Dajan, east of Nablus, at 3:00am and seized four young Palestinian men after conducting house-to-house searches. The security source named the arrestees as 19-year-old Sayf Hanani, 25-year-old Raed Hanani, 19-year-old Muhammad Abu Latifa and 20-year-old Muhammad Abu Hashish. Separately, local sources in the central West Bank town of Silwad, east of Ramallah, told Maans reporter that the Israeli forces invaded the town overnight and apprehended 24-year-old Islam Hamid after searching his family’s home. more..
Palestinian security arrests eight Hamas members in the West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/31/2008
Nablus Ma’an Hamas said on Thursday that Palestinian security forces affiliated to the Fatah-led caretaker government based in the West Bank have arrested eight Hamas members on Thursday. Hamas said in a statement that the security forces arrested Sheikh Zuhair Libbada,a who suffers a chronic illnesses, and his son Rashid in the city of Nablus. Three more Hamas members have been detained in the Nablus region. According Hamas’ statement, the rest of the arrestees were from Tulkarem and Jenin in the northern West Bank. [end]
Palestinians: Settler hit teen over snowball
Ali Waked and Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 1/31/2008
Teen’s parents say their son was assaulted by a Jewish man as he was playing with friends in the snow; police say settler filed complaint against teen - Palestinian sources in the West Bank city of Hebron said Thursday that a Jewish settler assualted a local teen who he claimed threw a snowball at him. The teen’s parents told Ynet that on Wednesday they sent their son, Mahmoud Da’ana, to a neighborhood grocery store located near the disputed house that was taken over by Jewish settlers several months ago. On the way to the store, they said, Mahmoud stopped to play in the snow with his friends when a settler appeared and began to punch him. "The settler, who was in his 30s, claimed that my son threw a snowball at him," said the teen’s father, Awani Da’ana. "He beat him severely and injured him. more..
IDF troops use computer simulation to train for Gaza op
Haaretz Staff and Channel 10, Ha’aretz 1/31/2008
Haaretz. com/Channel 10 daily feature for January 31, 2008. Israel Defense Forces troops training for a possible major operation in Gaza have been utilizing a new computer program designed to simulate the densely populated terrain of the coastal strip. The use of this program by regular infantry soldiers comes in the wake of the Second Lebanon War, where the IDF learned that its field intelligence had been neglected. As such, the army hopes the new computer-generated intelligence systems will help soldiers understand enemy terrain better, and fight better, wherever the next conflict may be. [end]
Resistance fighter killed during clashes with the army in the southern part of the Gaza Strip
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/31/2008
One Palestinian resistance fighter was killed on Thursday morning during clashes that took place between a group of resistance fighters and Israeli troops near the borders between the southern Gaza strip town of Rafah and Israel. Dr. Mo’awiah Hassanin of the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Mohamed Al Da’alsah, 20, died due to being shot with multiple rounds in his body. Al Aqsa brigades the armed wing of the Fatah movement headed by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a press statement that Al Da’alsah died when a group of fighters from the brigades clashed with Israeli soldiers at the borders. Israeli sources confirmed that clashes took place near a military post located near the Rafah Israel borders, but reported no injures among Israeli troops. more..
Al-Aqsa Brigades fighter killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers near Rafah
Ma’an News Agency 1/31/2008
Gaza Ma’an A member of Fatah’s armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, was killed on Thursday morning when he attacked an Israeli military position near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Sources within Al-Aqsa Brigades told Ma’an’s correspondent that Mahmoud Da’alsa attacked an Israeli military post near the area of Ash-Shuka, south of Rafah, and fought with the Israeli troops for two hours before the Israelis announced that he was killed. [end]
IDF force kills gunman near Gaza border
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 1/31/2008
Soldiers open fire at gunmen attempting to infiltrate Israel near Kerem Shalom, killing one. Palestinian source says gunmen belonged to al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades cell planned to carry out suicide attack in army outpost - An IDF force shot and killed an armed terrorist near the border fence in southern Gaza early Thursday morning. A bullet-proof vest and a Kalashnikov rifle were found on the man’s body. The force sighted two suspicious figures moving near the fence north of Kerem Shalom. When they approached the area, one of the men opened fire at the soldiers, who responded with fire. The force then entered the Strip area to examine the weapons that the gunman was carrying. "This is another attempt by the terrorist organizations to carry out an attack against IDF forces patrolling the fence," said an army official. more..
Al-Quds Brigades claim projectile attacks
Ma’an News Agency 1/31/2008
Gaza Ma’an The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot and Al Majdal onThursday evening. The brigades said that this attack comes as a response for Israeli crimes in Gaza and West Bank. [end]
Palestine Today 013108
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio dept, International Middle East Media Center 1/31/2008
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 3 m 0s || 2. 75 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Thursday January 31st, 2008. Two Palestinians die due to the Israeli siege on Gaza and meanwhile the army kidnaps 10 civilians from the northern part of the West Bank, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Palestinian medical sources reported that two Palestinian patients from Gaza died on Thursday due to the Israeli siege imposed on the Palestinian coastal region. Arafat Owdah, 23, a cancer patient and Judah Obeed, 56, with a serious illness were both reported dead by Palestinian medical sources on Thursday morning after the Israeli army would not allow them to leave the coastal region to get medical care. With the deaths of Owdah and Obeed, the number of Palestinians who have... more..
Jewish group begins new construction in East Jerusalem
Meron Rapoport, Ha’aretz 1/31/2008
The Yemin Yehuda non-profit association has begun building 200 housing units in the Shimon Hatzaddik compound, in the heart of East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarra neighborhood. In the process, the organization intends to demolish the homes of dozens of Palestinian families who live there. This neighborhood is in a strategic location: If Yemin Yehuda completes its plan, it will cut the Old City off from the Palestinian neighborhoods in northern Jerusalem. MK Benny Elon (National Union-National Religious Party), who supports building the new neighborhood, says it is designed to create a Jewish continuum surrounding the Old City, where there currently is a massive Palestinian majority. Elon says this can be done by declaring open areas to be national parks and placing state property back-to-back with lands under Jewish ownership. more..
One Injured and four kidnapped during Israeli army attack on Jenin
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2008
The Israeli army invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday at dawn, during the attack troops injured one civilian and kidnapped another four. Witnesses said that undercover Israeli soldiers invaded Jenin city, they surrounded and searched a house that belongs to Ali Al Sous, later ten Israeli military jeeps followed the undercover forces; troops forced the residents of the house out and made them stay out in the rain until the attack was finished. When the army jeeps invaded the city troops opened fire randomly at residents’ homes and injured Mohamed Al Ashkar, 30, medical sources said that the man sustained light wounds. After several hours troops left the city of Jenin and kidnapped Samier Al Sous, 22, his brother Ahmad, 23, Samier Al Batal, 25, and Samier Ali, 30. more..
The Israeli army shells northern Gaza and Palestinian resistance retaliates
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2008
At noon on Wednesday, Israeli jet fighters shelled areas in the northern Gaza strip town of Beit Hanoun. Meanwhile, the Palestinian resistance announced that it had shelled an Israeli military post located on the borders near central Gaza. In Beit Hanoun, local sources said that jet fighters shelled a farm and residential areas, causing damage to property, but no injuries. Later in the day the al-Quds brigade, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, announced that the group fired three home-made shells at an Israeli military post located at the borders between central Gaza and Israel. Israeli sources reported no injures. [end]
Al-Quds Brigades launch three mortar shells at Israeli forces
Ma’an News Agency 1/30/2008
Gaza Ma’an The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility on Wednesday for firing three mortar shells towards an Israeli military position east of Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They said in a statement that the operation came as natural response to ongoing Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. [end]
Report: Egypt thwarts suicide terror attack against Israel
Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 1/30/2008
Five Palestinian terrorists carrying explosives belts and reportedly planning a suicide attack against Israel were apprehended by the Egyptian authorities recently in recent days, the Egyptian daily al-Ahram reported Wednesday. The report came a week after Palestinian militants blew holes in the border fence separating the Gaza Strip and Egypt, prompting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to pour across the breached frontier. Al-Ahram reported Wednesday that Egypt has successfully sealed the breach, after several failed attempts, and intends to erect a new border fence equipped with technological advances in order to "absolutely prevent infiltration, in keeping with the national security of Egypt." According to the report, the five Palestinian suspects are currently being questioned by Egyptian security officials. more..
Soldier steals from Palestinians ’because of Gilad Shalit’
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 1/30/2008
Golani fighter steals NIS 100 from Palestinian house in Gaza, returns banknote several minutes later; explains, ’I wanted to buy pizza for my platoon’. Court gives him suspended sentence; prosecution appeals sentence - A Golani fighter who stole NIS 100 (about $27. 4) from a Palestinian house in the Gaza Strip explained that he committed the offense "out of anger after seeing a picture of Gilad Shalit. I wanted to buy pizza for my platoon." The Military Prosecution demanded that the soldier be sent to jail, but the court decided to give him a suspended sentence. The prosecution is now expected to appeal the sentence. The incident took place in the southern Gaza Strip during an operational military activity. "I went to search a house," the soldier from Golani’s 51st battalion recounted. more..
Palestine Today 013008
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/30/2008
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || File 3. 67 MB || Time 4m 0s || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Wednesday January 30th, 2008. One Palestinian woman dies in Gaza due to the Israeli siege while in the West Bank army attacks leave one injured in Jenin, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Palestinian medical sources reported on Wednesday that a Palestinian woman died late Tuesday night because the Israeli army would not allow her to leave the Gaza Strip for medical care. The sources said that Amneh Al Madhon, aged 60 had Breast Cancer. Al Madhon is the 85th patient to die from a serious illness in Gaza due to the Israeli siege that has been imposed on the Palestinian coastal region since June 2007. more..
The Israeli army target several West Bank cities and kidnap 6 civilians
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/29/2008
Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli army kidnapped 6 Palestinian civilians during pre-dawn invasions targeting several parts of the West Bank. In Jerusalem city, Israeli troops attacked Al Toor area, a Palestinian neighborhood located in the northern part of Jerusalem, troops searched homes and kidnapped two civilians, local sources identified the two as Durgham Al Amreen, 17 and Nidal Jaradat, 20. Meanwhile Israeli troops invaded the village of Beit Rima located near Ramallah city in the central part of the West Bank, troops searched a number of homes and kidnapped two civilians, Ahmad Al Rimawi, 22, and Sadam AL Rimawi, 19. Also on Tuesday at dawn Israeli forces attacked and searched residents homes in Tulkarem city and the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, troops left the area after several hours after kidnapping Lou’ai Mustafa, 39, and Ali Yousif, 22. more..
Islamic Movement head charged with incitement to racism, violence
Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 1/29/2008
The head of the Islamic Movement in Israel’s Northern Branch, Ra’ad Salah, was charged Tuesday in Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court with incitement to violence and racism, over a fiery speech he gave a year ago in which he invoked the blood libel. During the speech at the February 16, 2007 protest in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Joz, Salah accused Jews of using children’s blood to bake bread. "We have never allowed ourselves to knead [the dough for] the bread that breaks the fast in the holy month of Ramadan with children’s blood," he said. "Whoever wants a more thorough explanation, let him ask what used to happen to some children in Europe, whose blood was mixed in with the dough of the [Jewish] holy bread." "Great God, is this a religion? " he asked. more..
The Israeli army attack several villages in northern part of the West Bank and kidnaps two civilians
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/29/2008
Two Palestinian civilians were kidnapped by the Israeli army on Tuesday morning during an army attack targeting several villages near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Jamal Harb, 28, and Oday Manour, 16, were kidnapped by Israeli troops during an invasion to the village of Kufer Kalil located near Nablus. Witnesses said that soldiers searched and ransacked several homes in the village before taking the two men and leaving the village. Meanwhile sources in Nablus city said that troops today also attacked and searched homes in the village of Beit Dajan and Beit Fourik also located near Nablus city. [end]
Hamas: "P.A security forces arrested eight Hamas members in the West Bank"
IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 1/29/2008
Hamas movement reported that the Palestinian Security Forces, loyal to Fateh movement, in the West Bank, continued their arrest campaign against members and supporters of Hamas and arrested eight residents on Monday in several parts of the West Bank. The Hamas members and supporters were arrested after the Palestinian security forces loyal to Fateh movement headed by President Mahmoud Abbas sent them summons ordering them to head to the nearest security center for questioning. Hamas stated that security forces arrested Mustafa Amro Bdeir and Ayman Shahroor from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem. Both initially were ordered to head to a security center for questioning and were arrested there. Also in Tulkarem, security personnel arrested Fadi Omayyir and Ra’fat Shahroor, from the nearby Bal’a village. more..
Israeli forces seize 17 Palestinians in the West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Bethlehem Ma’an Israeli forces seized 17 Palestinians in different West Bank districts under the pretext that they are all wanted activists on Tuesday morning. Israeli sources said that a pistol and live ammunition was found in the house of one of the arrestees in Hebron in the southern West Bank. [end]
Al-Aqsa Brigades claim attack on Israeli forces
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Gaza Ma’an The armed wing of Fatah the Al-Aqsa Brigades, claimed responsibility on Monday evening for launching two mortar shells at the Israeli military position at Nahal Oz, east of Gaza City. They said in a statement that the shelling was an affirmation that resistance will continue against the ongoing Israeli atrocities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. [end]
Israeli forces seize two Palestinians in Nablus
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Nablus Ma’an Israeli military forces seized two Palestinians on Tuesday morning from the northern West Bank village of Kafr Qallil, south of Nablus, one of whom was a Palestinian police officer. Palestinian security sources told our correspondent that several Israeli military jeeps stormed the village after midnight and arrested a Palestinian police officer, twenty-eight-year-old Kamal Abu Harb and sixteen-year-old Uday Mansur. Separately, the Israeli radio said that several Israeli settlers broke into the area of Qabir Yousif, or Joseph’s Tomb near Balata refugee camp east of Nablus and that a chief rabbi for Jews of French origin visited the Tomb amidst heavy security. The report added that the visit came after several Israeli ministers submitted a petition to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asking him to demand that the Palestinian Authority repair the Joseph Tomb which was recently been damaged by Palestinians. more..
Palestinian security forces ’detain eight Hamas members’
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Nablus Ma’an Fatah-allied Palestinian security forces arrested eight Hamas members in the West Bank on Monday night, Hamas claims. The movement said in a statement that the arrestees were from the northern West bank districts of Tulkarem, Nablus and Jenin. The statement mentioned that amongst the arrestees was Sheikh Abdul-Ilah Daraghma, the director of West Bank mosques as well as two students from An-Najah National University in Nablus. [end]
Israeli forces seize three Palestinians in Ramallah
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Ramallah Ma’an The Israeli forces on Tuesday morning seized three Palestinians in the central West Bank city of Ramallah and in the village of Beit Rima northwest of Ramallah. Local sources told Ma’an that several Israeli military vehicles raided the village at 1:30 am, and the soldiers broke into numerous homes before apprehending a university student, twenty-two-year-old Ahmad Rimawi and nineteen-year-old Saddam Rimawi. Sources in Ramallah said that the Israeli forces arrested forty-eight-year-old Samir Hasarnah from his house in Ramallah’s Satih Marhaba neighborhood. Hasarnah is the representative of the Qatari Red Cross in Palestine, and he heads the academic council of the Ibn Rashid Al-Maktum School in Ramallah. more..
Israeli ’Economic Warfare’ to Include Electricity Cuts in Gaza
Ellen Knickmeyer, MIFTAH 1/29/2008
Saying they were waging "economic warfare" against the Gaza Strip’s Hamas leaders, Israeli officials told the Supreme Court on Sunday that the military intends to start cutting electricity to the Palestinian territory and continue restricting fuel. The statements by Israel’s state attorney, outlining Defense Ministry plans, came in response to a lawsuit filed by Israeli and Palestinian rights groups. The organizations are asking the Supreme Court to make Israel end fuel restrictions that caused power blackouts in the Gaza Strip this month. The activists argue that the restrictions constitute collective punishment of Gaza’s 1. 5 million people and violate international law. Israel’s restrictions on shipments into Gaza have become a central issue in the territory’s relations with Israel and neighboring Egypt. Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel and other supplies into the strip for 4½ days this month, saying it was acting in response to rocket attacks from Gaza on southern Israel. more..
Abu Ali Mustafa brigades target Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Gaza Ma’an The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility on Tuesday for launching two projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot and at Kibbutz Sa’d. The brigades said the attack comes as a response to the continuous attacks by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people. [end]
Al-Quds Brigades attack Israeli military bases
Ma’an News Agency 1/29/2008
Gaza Ma’an The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility on Tuesday for launching nine projectiles at two Israeli military sites, north of the Gaza Strip. They said the attack was a reaction to Israeli crimes. [end]
Islamic Movement leader charged with inciting violence
Sharon Roffe-Ofir, YNetNews 1/29/2008
Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office indicts Sheikh Raed Salah for inciting violence at protest rally in east Jerusalem last February. Salah’s lawyer petitions Attorney General Mazuz for dismissal of ’false allegations’ - The Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment with the capital’s Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday against Islamic Movement head Sheikh Raed Salah for inciting violence and racism. Salah was arrested in east Jerusalem on February 2007, while attending a mass rally protesting Israel’s work at the Mugrabi Gate, which leads to Temple Mount. The court had previously banned Salah from entering the Old City, so the rally - attended by hundreds of his supporters - was held in east Jerusalem. According to the indictment, in a speech given at the rally Salah told his followers that "we stand here at this holy, blessed place,..." more..
The forgotten civilian fatalities / ’My son fell in the war too’
Yair Ettinger, Ha’aretz 1/29/2008
Nava Mansura’s table is piled with bags of documents - dozens, maybe hundreds - concerning the death of her son Shlomi, who was killed during the Second Lebanon War along with seven other workers at the Haifa train depot. His mother is "only looking for someone who will understand that he was killed in the war" and be recognized as a war casualty. For a year and a half she has been writing letters and sending them off. She wants an answer: from the Winograd Committee, from the state comptroller, from the president, from the transportation minister, from Knesset members, from Haifa city hall and from the Kiryat Haim municipality, where she lives. Mansura has saved all the answers sent her by various officials. Every one of the letter writers "express their condolences on her loss," but provide no answers. more..
Palestine Today 012908
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 1/29/2008
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || File 3. 67 MB || Time 4m 0s || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Tuesday January 29th, 2008. Egypt starts to close its borders with Gaza, and the Israeli army kidnap 8 civilians from several parts of the West Bank. These stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Palestinian sources in Gaza confirmed that the Egyptian troops started to close the borders between Egypt and the southern coastal city of Rafah on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday morning Cairo announced that its troops will completely re-seal the breaches in the wall that Palestinians made at the Rafah-Egypt borders. Last week Palestinian civilians and resistance groups opened around a dozen holes in the Rafah -Egypt border wall, after two weeks of an Israeli siege that left the.... more..
Palestinian teenager killed, seven injured as Israeli forces invade Bethlehem
Ma’an News Agency 1/28/2008
Bethlehem - Ma’an - The Israeli army withdrew from the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday evening, leaving one civilian dead and seven others injured. One resistance fighter was also seized. Qusay Al-Afandi, a seventeen year-old from Duheisha refugee camp, died from bullet wounds sustained in clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli military forces during the incursion. Israeli forces invaded the southern West Bank city on Monday afternoon in a rare daylight incursion. Medical sources reported that nineteen-year-old Abdulkareem al-Atrash, from Duheisha refugee camp, was shot in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet. The source added that Yousef Abu Srour, from Aida refugee camp was wounded in his leg, in addition to twenty-nine-year-old Salem Al-’Orouj, from nearby Tiqua village who was wounded by live ammunition that penetrated his knee as he was walking home from work. more..
Israeli airstrikes injure four in the Gaza Strip
Ma’an News Agency 1/28/2008
Gaza Ma’an Israeli warplanes struck a former Israeli settlement northwest of Rafah in the Gaza Strip in two separate raids on Sunday night. Palestinian sources said that two missiles were fired at a Palestinian car parked in the area, damaging it, while the other raid targeted a military position used by Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, injuring four people slightly. Israeli sources mentioned that the Israeli air force also targeted armored vehicles that Hamas had seized from Fatah-affiliated security forces when it took control of the Gaza Strip last June. [end]
Israeli forces seize three Palestinian teenagers from Hebron’s old city
Ma’an News Agency 1/28/2008
Hebron Ma’an Israeli forces siezed three Palestinians in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday night. Ma’an’s reporter said that an Israeli force ransacked a Palestinian home near the Israeli settlement of Abraham Avinu in the old city of Hebron and seized two brothers, Sa’id and Thaer Al-Waiwi, aged 18 and 17, in addition to a relative 18-year-old Farid Al-Waiwi. [end]
IDF nabs Jihad chief in Bethlehem
Ali Waked, YNetNews 1/28/2008
Troops detain Islamic Jihad leader in West Bank town; Palestinians say youth killed during operation - Successful West Bank operation: The Islamic Jihad chief in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Mohammad Abda, was arrested Monday evening in a joint IDF, Shin Bet and Border Guard operation that lasted several hours. Security officials said Abda commanded numerous Islamic Jihad cells and has been involved in the planning and financing of terror attacks against Israeli citizens and military forces. Abda was arrested after troops laid siege to his house for hours. During the operation a 17-year-old Palestinian youth who threw a Molotov cocktail at the soldiers was killed, Palestinian sources reported. Military officials said that during the operation, dozens of Palestinians gathered in the area and proceeded to... more..
Israeli forces raid Tulkarem
Ma’an News Agency 1/28/2008
Tulkarem Ma’an The Israeli force raided the northern West bank city of Tulkarem on Monday morning, forcibly searching a Palestinian house. Ma’an’s reporter said that several Israeli military vehicles broke into the city and stormed the home of Bakir Sanyura in the northern neighborhood of the city. They forced the residents to stay out in the open in very cold weather, under the pretext of searching for "wanted Palestinians." No arrests have been reported in connection with the raid. [end]
IDF troops kill Palestinian teen, hurt another in Bethlehem raid
Avi Issacharoff and Reuters, Ha’aretz 1/29/2008
A Palestinian teenager was killed and another was wounded by Israel Defense Forces troops during a raid into the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday, Palestinian medical officials said. The officials said the teenager was shot in his stomach by the troops who were surrounding a building in the city during a search for militants. Palestinian sources identified the killed teenager as 17-year-old Kusai al-Afandi. An IDF spokeswoman said troops had initially used non-lethal riot dispersal means but resorted to live fire at the lower bodies of some demonstrators when they endangered the troops by throwing stones and large building blocks at them. The militant being targeted in the raid surrended to the IDF forces a few hours later as was taken in for questioning. more..
IAF wounds four Hamas militants in strike on armored car in Gaza
Yuval Azoulay and Avi Issacharoffs, Ha’aretz 1/27/2008
Israel Air Force warplanes attacked a convoy of Hamas armored vehicle in the Gaza Strip late Sunday, wounding four militants. The vehicles were positioned in the former settlement of Morag, in the southern strip. IAF pilots reported precisely striking their targets. Palestinian witnesses said four people were wounded in the strike. Apparently, the armored vehicle was formerly owned by the Fatah movement and reappropriated by Hamas when it took control of the Gaza Strip last June. [end]
Hamas: PA seizes four more Hamas supporters in West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2008
Nablus Ma’an The Hamas movement said on Sunday that Fatah-allied Palestinian security forces seized four Hamas members in the West Bank on Saturday. Hamas said in a statement that the arrestees were from the Tulkarem and Salfit districts in the northern West Bank. [end]
Israeli forces seize three Palestinians in the Hebron district
Ma’an News Agency 1/27/2008
Hebron Ma’an Israeli forces seized three Palestinians in Hebron and the nearby town of Beit Ummar in the southern West Bank on Sunday. Palestinian security sources said that Israeli forces detained 27-year-old Sufyan Abdul-Basit near the Ibrahimi mosque in the centre of Hebron. In Beit Ummar Israeli forces seized two brothers, Mousa and Muhammad Breigheith, under the pretext that they entered an area that is off-limits for Palestinians. Meanwhile, Palestinian security sources said that Israeli forces stormed the town of Taffuh, west of Hebron and ransacked several houses. [end]
Israeli suspected of dealing in arms with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade
Eli Ashkenazi, Ha’aretz 1/27/2008
An Israeli resident of Kfar Kara is suspected of having sold weapons to the heads of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a violent offshoot of the Palestinian Fatah movement. The gag order on the investigation was lifted Saturday, revealing that 20 Israeli citizens, residents of the Arab towns of Wadi Ara and Jiser a Zarka, have been arrested recently on suspicion that they were involved in arms trading with Hamza Masri, 24, of Kfar Kara. Masri himself is suspected of selling weapons to Shaher Hanina, the head of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade’s infrastructure in Qalqiliya. Indictments were filed against Masri and five other suspects at the Haifa District Court on Sunday. According to the indictments, Masri was arrested two years ago after supplying Hanina with bomb-making materials, among them 15 kilograms of fertilizer containing potassium chloride, potassium nitrate and sulfur. more..
Israeli Arabs accused of arms trade with Tanzim operative
Sharon Roffe-Ofir, YNetNews 1/27/2008
Six Israeli Arabs, headed by 24-year-old Hamze Massari, indicted for buying arms from Tanzim operative in West Bank city of Qalqilya, selling weapons for money, drugs - A wide-scale investigation, the results of which were publicized Monday with permission of the Nazareth Magistrates Court, revealed that Israeli-Arabs from the villages of Kfar Qira and Jaser al-Zarka regularly traded in arms obtained from Tanzim operatives from the West Bank city of Qalqilya. The investigation, spearheaded by the Central Investigations Unit of the Amakim District, revealed that ringleader Hamze Massari (24) from the village of Qira near Haifa, would regularly purchase arms from a Tanzim operative in Qalqilya, and then sell them for either money or narcotics. Beginning in April 2007, Massari would contact Chief Tanzim operative in Qalqilya, Sha’ar Hanini, and purchase illicit firearms which Massari would then sell. more..
Air strikes leave 5 Palestinians dead in Rafah; Jerusalem policeman stabbed
Yuval Azoulay, Ha’aretz 1/26/2008
Five Palestinians were killed early Friday in air strikes near Rafah, including a leading Hamas militant involved in rocket and mortar attacks against Israel. Yesterday, in the third violent incident in the Jerusalem area over the weekend, a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli policeman in the city, inflicting moderate injuries. Police said a patrol stopped a Palestinian man for a routine check when he pulled out a knife and stabbed a border policeman in the neck and back. The attack took place in the industrial area of Atarot at the northern edge of Jerusalem. Officers shot the attacker, wounding him in the leg. Both the border policeman and the attacker were rushed to Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem for treatment. Attacks on Israeli police and soldiers in Jerusalem and the West Bank have been relatively infrequent, with most Palestinian violence originating from the... more..
Dozens hurt on Gaza-Egypt border
Associated Press, YNetNews 1/26/2008
More than 30 Egyptian police officers hospitalized, including some in critical condition, after troops clash with Palestinians; Gazans continue to cross into Egypt despite Cairo’s attempts to restore order - Egyptian riot police and armored vehicles restricted Gaza motorists to a small border area of Egypt on Saturday, in the second attempt in two days to restore some control over the chaotic frontier which was breached by Hamas earlier in the week. At least 36 members of the Egyptian security forces have been hospitalized, some in critical condition, as a result of cross-border confrontations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said. The minister complained of "provocations" at the border, a thinly veiled reprimand of Hamas, and said that while Egypt is ready to ease the suffering of Gazans, this should not endanger Egyptian lives. more..
Palestinian stabs Israeli soldier at checkpoint
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Jerusalem Ma’an An Israeli soldier sustained moderate injuries after being stabbed by a Palestinian at a military checkpoint north of Jerusalem on Saturday afternoon. Israeli sources said the indcident occurred at a military checkpoint near the industrial zone of Atarot north of Jerusalem north of Jerusalem. The sources added that another border guard fired at the Palestinian injuring him. No further details have yet emerged. [end]
Border Guard policeman stabbed by Palestinian
Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 1/26/2008
Terrorist attacks police officers on patrol north of Jerusalem; stab victim moderately hurt - A Border Guard police officer was stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist Saturday at the Atarot industrial zone north of Jerusalem. The officer suffered moderate wounds in the attack. The attacker was shot by police and is in critical condition. An initial investigation showed that Border Guard police officers who were patrolling the area wanted to check a Palestinian walking in the industrial zone. The man pulled out a knife, opened the door of the police jeep, and stabbed the Border Guard officer who was behind the wheel. The terrorist then attempted to stab a female police officer sitting at the back seat of the vehicle, but the officer struggled with him and he was unable to stab her. At that point, the commander of the police team disembarked from the vehicle... more..
Al-Aqsa Brigades clash with Israeli force near Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Jenin Ma’an Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility on Saturday morning for clashing with an Israeli force near Qabatia south of Jenin in the northern West Bank. They said in a statement that the operation was in retaliation for the ongoing Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. [end]
PFLP’s military wing fires three projectiles at Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Gaza Ma’an The military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, claimed responsibility on Friday evening for firing three homemade projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot in the western Negev and seven mortar shells at the Erez crossing and the Israeli settlement of Netiv Hasarah. They said in a statement that the actions were a demonstration of their rejection to the trial of the PFLP’s Secretary General Ahmad Sa’adat, and in retaliation for Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians. [end]
Explosion at Gaza Strip police station
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Gaza Ma’an An explosive device detonated on Friday evening at the entrance of the de facto government’s police headquarters in the southern Gaza Strip. Muawiya Hassanain, the director of the ambulance and emergency department in the Palestinian health ministry affirmed that there were no casualties. [end]
Al-Aqsa Brigades target Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Gaza Ma’an Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Brigades on Saturday afternoon claimed responsibility for firing two homemade projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot. They said in a statement that the shelling came in retaliation for the ongoing Israeli atrocities against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They said they will continue to launch more projectiles, as well as conduct "qualitative military operations." [end]
Israeli forces seize two Palestinians near Qalqilia
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Qalqilia Ma’an The Israeli forces seized two Palestinians from the northern West Bank town of Azzun west of Qalqilia on Saturday. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that la arge Israeli force stormed the town and conducted house-to-house inspections before arresting twenty-year-old Wael Aweidan and nineteen-year-old Shadi Sulaiman. [end]
Brigades attack Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 1/26/2008
Gaza Ma’an - The Abu Ali Mustafa brigades claimed responsibility for launching two projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot on Saturday. The brigades told Ma’an that they will continue their resistance attacks to defend Palestinians. [end]
The Town that Measures Life in 15-Second Intervals
Mary Dejevsky, MIFTAH 1/26/2008
You can tell almost as much about a country from the things they want you to see as the things they would prefer you didn’t. And just now one of things Israel really wants the outside world to see is daily life as it is lived in the depressed southern town of Sderot. A "new town" created as a regional centre in the 1950s to accommodate the early waves of mainly north African refugees, Sderot was once distinguished only by middle-brow ordinariness and its relaxed lifestyle in the sun. More recently, it has stamped itself on Israel’s political and psychological map as the chief target of Palestinian rockets. The town’s vulnerability is apparent as you approach from the north. The urban sprawl of Gaza City is clearly visible on the near horizon just across what could one day be the border of a Palestinian state. The distance or lack of it - places Sderot just within the 10km range of Qassam rockets fired from the village of Beit Hanoun, essentially a northerly suburb of Gaza City. more..
Israel raid kills four Palestinians
Al Jazeera 1/25/2008
Four Palestinians have been killed in two separate Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, security officials and health workers have said. Mohammed Harb - a leader of the Ezzeddine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas - and one of his deputies are believed to be among the dead. The car they were travelling in was completely destroyed in the attack on Friday morning. Two other members of the Al-Qassam Brigades were killed overnight in another Israeli raid. Hamas confirmed the second strike was aimed at two of its local commanders in the area. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the military had carried out both air raids on Friday, saying that the targets had been "terror operatives". Rafah became the focus of international attention on Wednesday when tens of thousands... more..
Palestinians: IDF troops kill stone-throwing teenager near Hebron
Amos Harel, and News Agencies, Ha’aretz 1/25/2008
A Palestinian teenager was killed Friday by Israel Defense Forces troops during a raid in a village near the West Bank city of Hebron, hospital officials said. Witnesses said troops opened fire at local residents who hurled rocks at troops in the village, killing the teenager. An IDF spokesman said troops had initially used non-lethal riot dispersal means but resorted to live fire at the lower bodies of some demonstrators when they endangered the troops by throwing stones and large building blocks at them. At least four Hamas militants were killed by two Israel Air Force strikes in the Rafah area of southern Gaza late Thursday, Israeli and Palestinian officials said Friday. Israeli security officials said the militants belonged to a Hamas cell preparing to carry out a terror attack in Israel. more..
Clashes between Palestinians, Israeli forces and settlers leave 1 dead and 5 injured in Beit Ummar
Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2008
Hebron Ma’an Hebron Ma’an Two Palestinians were injured after being hit by a car driven by an Israeli settler on the main road between Bethlehem and Hebron, near the village of Beit Ummar, on Friday evening. Eyewitnesses said it looked as though the settler deliberately hit twenty-seven-year-old Mufid Muhammad Mahmoud Khalil and twenty-year-old Mu’taz Muhammad Khalil. Mahmoud received a serious head injury and Mu’taz was injured in his leg. Meanwhile three Palestinians were shot by Israeli forces during confrontations at a funeral for three Palestinians from Beit Ummar, who were killed in separate incidents on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. Doctors at the Al-Ahli Hospital told Ma’an that seventeen-year-old Mahmoud Muhammad ’Awad had been brought into the hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest but medical teams were unable to save him. more..
IDF kills Palestinian teen near Hebron
Ali Waked, YNetNews 1/25/2008
Seventeen-year-old teen from village of Beit Omer shot to death by IDF soldiers conducting searches in area following Thursday’s shooting attack in Kfar Etzion - A 17-year-old Palestinian teen was killed by IDF soldiers Friday afternoon in the village pf Beit Omer near Hebron, Palestinian eyewitnesses reported. The IDF confirmed that a Palestinian was hurt during disturbances in the village, which was the home of the two gunmen killed Thursday after infiltrating a yeshiva in the West Bank settlement of Kfar Etzion. Witnesses said that the teen killed, Muhammad Awad, was hit after Israeli soldiers opened fire at locals who were hurling stones at the force. Army sources reported that soldiers were conducting searches in the village following Thursday’s shooting attack in Kfar Etzion. more..
Report: Israeli strikes kill 4 Palestinians in Gaza
Ali Waked and Reuters, YNetNews 1/25/2008
Palestinian sources say two aerial strikes on vehicles traveling in Rafah kill at least four gunmen; Hamas says two local commanders among those killed - Two Israeli air strikes on cars killed at least four Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Friday, security officials and medical staff said. An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the military had carried out both air strikes, saying that the targets had been "terror operatives". In the first strike on Friday morning the car of the two men who were hit was completely destroyed. Hamas said the second later strike targeted two of its local militant commanders in the area. Palestinian sources said among those killed were Muhammad Abu Hareb, the commander of the Islamist group’s "artillery force, and Sami el-Hamaydeh, a senior member of Hamas’ armed wing. more..
Israeli air strike kills four Hamas members
Middle East Online 1/25/2008
GAZA CITY - An Israeli air strike killed the Hamas military commander for the Gaza-Egypt border town of Rafah early on Friday, medical sources said. Mohammed Harb was killed along with one of his lieutenants when an Israeli missile struck their car. During Thursday night, two other members of the military wing of the democratically elected Hamas movement which controls Gaza were also killed when two Israeli missiles slammed into their jeep, medical sources said. An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the two raids saying that they had hit "Palestinians implicated in acts of terrorism." Harb commanded Hamas forces in the divided Egyptian frontier town of Rafah where militants blew up sections of the border fence on Tuesday night allowing hundreds of thosuands of Gazans to pour across over the past few days. more..
Al Quds brigades detonate explosive near Israeli patrol south of Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2008
Jenin Ma’an The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility on Friday for detonating an explosive device near an Israeli intelligence patrol in Qabatya south of Jenin. The incident occured as Israeli forces stormed the town on Friday morning. A Brigades spokesman said the activists detonated the explosive device as the patrol passed by. The brigades said that the operation was in retailation for the assassination of Brigades leader in the West Bank, Walid Al-Ubeidi who was killed in clashes with Israeli forces earlier this week. [end]
Abu Ali Mustafa brigades launch projectiles at Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2008
Gaza Ma’an The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility on Friday for launching two projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot and at the Israeli military base at Nahel ’Oz. The brigades said the attack comes in retaliation for Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people. [end]
Palestinian security arrest 5 Hamas members across West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2008
Bethlehem Ma’an Palestinian security services arrested five Hamas members from cities across the West Bank on Thursday, Hamas announced on Friday. In the governorate of Nablus, security services arrested Sheikh Musa Al- Kharaz and Saher Dshon after calling them in for interview. They also arrested ’Amer Younis for the second time after a raid on his house in Al-Ain refugee camp in Nablus. In the province of Salfit, security services arrested Sheikh Abdel-Rahman Al Qazaq after breaking into his house. In the province of Jenin, security agencies arrested Saker Ahmed Bthor from Raba, east of Jenin. [end]
Four dead, including three Al-Qassam Brigades members in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip
Ma’an News Agency 1/25/2008
Gaza Ma’an Two members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday morning. The Al-Qassam Brigades said that the dead were two of their leaders, Mohammed Abu Harb and Sami Al-Hamaydeh. Israeli security officials told the Israeli daily newspaper Ha’aretz that the militants belonged to a Hamas cell preparing to carry out a terror attack in Israel. They claimed Mohammed Abu Harb had been coordinating Qassam rocketattacks on Sderot and that he was involved in attacks in the Rafah area. Two hours earlier two Palestinians were killed, including an Al-Qassam Brigades member, and a number of others injured when the Israeli airforce raid targeted a truck in Rafah, southern Gaza. Medical sources said that Ibrahim Al-Absi, an Al-Qassam Brigades activist and another man,Zayed Abdel-’Al died in the strike. more..
Hamas: "P.A security arrested five Hamas members in the West Bank on Thursday"
IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 1/25/2008
Hamas media sources reported on Friday that Palestinian security forces, loyal to Fateh movement in the West Bank, arrested on Thursday five Hamas members in several areas in the West Bank. In the northern West Bank city of Nablus, security forces arrested sheikh Mousa Al Kharraz and Shaher Bashoun. Both received orders to head to a security center in Nablus for questioning and were arrested there. In Al Ein refugee camp in Nablus, security forces arrested Amer Younis after breaking into his home. This is the second time Younis is arrested by P. A security forces, Hamas sources said. Hamas sources added that the Palestinian Security Forces issued an order for Samah Shawkat Al Nadi to head to a security center for questioning. Al Nadi is the wife of Raed Al Nadi who is currently detained by Israel. Security forces repeatedly broke into the house of Al Nadi in order to search for weapons. more..
This Week In Palestine - week 4 2008
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 1/25/2008
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || File 12. 8 MB || Time 14m 0s || This Week In Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. IMEMC. org, for January 13th through to January 25th, 2008. As the UN fails to condemn Israel for its siege on Gaza, the Israeli army kills 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and three in the West Bank this week, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. Nonviolent Resistance Let’s begin our weekly report with the nonviolent actions in Palestine, Marguerite Mancy with the details: Bethlehem On Friday midday the villagers of Al Khader village located near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem protested against the illegal Israeli wall being built on the villagers land. Around 200 villagers along with international and Israeli supporters gathered at a nearby Israeli military checkpoint just out side the village of Al Khader. more..
Sources: Kfar Etzion terrorists released by Israel last week
Ali Waked and Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 1/25/2008
Palestinian sources tell Ynet terrorists who were killed after infiltrating yeshiva were recently freed after serving two years in an Israeli prison for attempting to steal weapons from IDF base. Search for gunmen behind Shoafat shooting attack continues - The two terrorists who were killed Thursday evening after breaking into a yeshiva in the settlement of Kfar Etzion were released from an Israeli prison last week, Palestinian sources in Hebron told Ynet. According to the sources, the terrorists were identified as relatives Muhammad and Mahmoud Sbarana, both 20-year-old Hamas members from the village of Beit Omer, near Hebron. The terrorists, armed with a gun and a knife and dressed in uniform, threatened the students and the instructors with the weapons before being shot to death by the yeshiva’s instructors, two of whom were lightly injured while struggling with the terrorists. more..
One Israeli policeman, two Palestinians killed, four Israeli injured in two separate attacks
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 1/25/2008
Israeli military and medical sources reported on Thursday at night that one Israeli policeman, member of the Border Guard Units, in addition to two Palestinian fighters, were killed, and four other Israelis, including a female soldier, were injured in two separate Palestinian attacks that took place in the Jerusalem area. The sources stated that the policeman was killed and one policewoman was injuredin a shooting attack carried by Palestinian fighters against the Ras Khamis Israeli military roadblock, near Shu’fat town, north of Jerusalem. The Maan News Agency reported that a previously unknown groups, calling itself The Return and Struggle Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack, the groups is apparently affiliated with the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fateh movement. In a separate attack, three Israeli settlers were injured in Kibbutz Atzion near Hebron... more..
Settlers attack a Palestinian house , international observers in Hebron
IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 1/25/2008
Israeli settlers attacked on Thursday the house of Shadi Nabeel Sidir, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and also attacked members of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) when they attempted to stop them. The settlers are from the illegal settlement of Beit Hadassah. They hurled stones at the home of Al Sidir and broke the windows of his kitchen. Al Sidir stated that he filed a complaint to the Israeli Police but they did not investigation the incident. He later on contacted members of the TIPH, and they sent some of their observers to his home but the settlers attacked them and hurled stones at them. The Palestinian Popular (Folk) Committees slammed that attack and stated that there are five illegal settlement outposts in the center of Hebron city. The settlers repeatedly closed the roads and alleys, especially in the Old City, and barred the... more..
Palestinian Sources: Israeli army invades several parts of the West Bank and kidnaps 7 civilians
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/24/2008
Palestinian media sources reported that the Israeli army invaded several parts of the West Bank on Thursday at dawn and kidnapped at least seven Palestinian civilians. According to sources the kidnappings took place in the northern West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin, Ramallah in the central West Bank and Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank. Local Palestinian sources said that all those kidnapped are civilians, meanwhile Israeli army sources said that those kidnapped are part of the Palestinian resistance. There are 12,000 Palestinian political detainees in Israeli detention camps, among them children, the majority of those detainees did not undergo trial or face any charges. more..
Israeli forces seize 8 Palestinians across West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2008
Bethlehem Nablus Ma’an Israeli forces seized seven Palestinians on Wednesday night from several West Bank cities. Their identities have not been revealed, Israeli sources said. Separately, Israeli security sources said that two molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli force, attempting to apprehend Palestinians in the central West Bank village of Ni’lin west of Ramallah. No casualties have been reported. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an’s reporter that the Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian boy in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus in the northern West Bank. In a different regard, the Israeli army claimed that they seized chemicalsthat could be used in manufacturing explosives during a joint Palestinian Israeli operation east of Nablus in the northern West Bank. more..
Unidentified assailants attack charity organisation in Gaza Strip
Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2008
Gaza Ma’an Unidentified assailants attacked the offices of a charity organisation in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. This iss the second attack on the Al-Maghazi Association for Community Development in less than a month. The head of the organisation’s board of directors, Wasif Abu Mashayikh, condemned the attack, saying that such assaults only harm the interests of Palestinians and they are the people the association aims to help. [end]
Israeli forces invade village near Salfit
Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2008
Nablus Ma’an Occupying Israeli forces overran the West Bank village of Deir Stiyah, near the city of Salfit on Thursday afternoon. Witnesses said dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded the village, transforming the home of 33-year-old Netham Ismail Al-Khatib into a military barracks. [end]
Israeli forces seize 13 Palestinians in the West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2008
Bethlehem Ma’an Israeli forces seized 13 Palestinians throughout the West Bank on Wednesday, claiming they were "wanted" by the Israeli government. Israeli media said a rifle was found at the house of one of the detainees in the southern West Bank city of Hebron. [end]
Palestinian security forces enter village in Area B near Salfit
Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2008
Nablus Ma’an A hundred illegal vehicles have been destroyed and large numbers of fines have been issued against drivers whose cars are not completely licensed in the village of Bidya west of Salfit, a Palestinian security source told Ma’an on Thursday On Wednesday hundreds of Palestinian security officers entered the northern West Bank village for the first time in five years on Wednesday. The security forces pledged to arrest criminals and clamp down on threats to public order. Biddya is located in Area B as designated in the Oslo peace accords, meaning that the village in under mixed Palestinian and Israeli control. [end]
Israeli forces raid Qabatiya
Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2008
Jenin Ma’an More than 20 Israeli military vehicles raided the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya, near Jenin, on Wednesday, threatening to kill "wanted" activists in Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, witnesses said. Al-Quds Brigades fighters fought the Israeli troops, hurling explosive devices. Israeli forces responded by detonating sound grenades near Palestinian houses. Qabatiya residents said the invading forces stormed the homes of Islamic Jihad members Abdul Fattah Khzeima, Bilal Kameel and Ziad Nazzal, warning their families of their impending assassination. Earlier, the Al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for shooting at Israeli soldiers at the Al-Jalama checkpoint, north of Jenin. more..
Israeli forces seize two Palestinians in Bethlehem raid
Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2008
Bethlehem Ma’an Israeli forces seized two Palestinians from the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday, Palestinian security sources said. The sources said Israeli forces invaded the Cinema neighborhood as well as Al-Madbasa and Bab Az-Ziqaq squares. The Israeli troops ransacked the Al-Ihsan health center, confiscating computers and detaining forty-four-year-old Mousa Abda and Thiry-five-year-old Samih Riziq from the center. [end]
Al-Aqsa Brigades fire at Israeli liaison office in Tulkarem
Ma’an News Agency 1/23/2008
Tulkarem Ma’an The Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, claimed responsibility on Wednesday for shooting at the Israeli military liaison’s office near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem. They said in a statement that a group of their fighters fired on the building, then withdrew after "causing casualties amongst the enemy." The statement added that the Al-Aqsa Brigades will continue operating against the Israeli forces in retaliation for ongoing Israeli aggression and siege of the Gaza Strip. [end]
Al-Quds Brigades fire three projectiles at Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2008
Gaza Ma’an The Al Quds brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for launching three projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot, north of the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening. The brigades said the attack was as a response for Israeli crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Israeli media confirmed that three projectiles landed in Sderot one inside the town and one on the outskirts of the city. Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip since last Friday, limiting supplies of food, fuel, medicine and other essential supplies. [end]
An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades target Israeli military post
Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2008
Gaza Ma’an The military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades claimed responsibility on Wednesday evening for firing a homemade projectile at the Israeli military post of Nahal ’Oz east of Gaza City. They said in a statement that the action in retaliation for the Israeli aggressions against the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [end]
Palestinian security arrest two Hamas members in the West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 1/24/2008
Nablus Ma’an Hamas said on Thursday that Palestinian security services arrested two of their members on Wednesday evening in the West Bank. They said in a statement that one of the arrestees was from Nablus in the northern West Bank, and the other was from Tulkarem and but he was seized in Ramallah in the central West Bank. [end]
Settlers kill Palestinian attackers
Al Jazeera 1/24/2008
Two Palestinians have been shot dead after infiltrating the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion where they managed to stab a number of students, an Israeli radio report says. Several students injured and some were taken to hospital on Thursday. Settlements built on occupied Palestinian land are illegal according to international law. A resident of the settlement told Israel Radio that the two Palestinians were disguised as Israeli soldiers and were carrying knives and a pistol. They were killed after Jewish settlers overpowered and shot them. In a second incident, Palestinian fighters shot and killed one police officer and wounded another near the Shuafat refugee camp in northern Jerusalem, Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, said. more..
Gaza sniper’s bullet fails to deter friends of fallen kibbutz volunteer
Cnaan Liphshiz, Ha’aretz 1/25/2008
Despite pressure from their families, eight volunteers at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha say they’re determined to stay there as they deal with the tragic loss of their friend. A Palestinian sniper gunned down 20-year-old Carlos Chavez from Ecuador last week while he was working in a potato field facing the Gaza Strip. Hailing from seven countries on four continents, each one found a way to handle the crisis with loved ones from home. Dana Gottfried, Carlos’ girlfriend, called her parents in New York immediately after Carlos’ death. "I didn’t want them to hear it on the news," Dana told Anglo File at the kibbutz on Tuesday - exactly one week after the shooting. She says her parents’ first reaction was to think about Carlos’ family. Later they began worrying about her safety at the kibbutz, which is situated eight kilometers east of the central region of the Gaza Strip. more..
’Wartime’ in Israeli Border Town
Tim Franks, MIFTAH 1/24/2008
The good news, for Or Cohen, is that she has managed to coax people out of their houses in Sderot." Everyone is so sad and so anxious," she says. "People told me they were afraid to leave their homes". In the end, though, a little more than 100 people - mainly residents from Sderot - turned up at the town’s new community centre to join in that evening’s celebrations marking the festival of Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish "New Year for Trees". Ms Cohen had organised the entertainment." It should be a celebration," she told me. "It is a happy festival." But at the same time, ask anyone in Sderot, and they will say, as Ms Cohen puts it: "We are living in a war." ’Trauma’For the past seven years, Sderot has lived under a daily volley of rockets and mortars, fired by Palestinian militants in northern Gaza. Some of the teenagers who have come to the Tu B’Shevat celebrations broke away from the tables covered with dried fruit, soft drinks and wine, to try to explain what passes for normality in their town. more..
Ongoing Kassam attacks on Sderot and western Negev and the situation in Gaza
Government of Israel, ReliefWeb 1/24/2008
Since January 16, well over 200 Kassam rockets have been fired by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip at Sderot, Ashkelon and other communities in the western Negev. Despite this, the supply of electricity to Gaza from the Israeli and Egyptian power grids continues and represents about three quarters of Gaza’s electricity needs. DM Barak on Tuesday (22 Jan) authorized the entry of limited supplies into the Gaza Strip. Israel Foreign Ministry response to events at the Rafah crossing (23 Jan): The Egyptians are deployed along the border between Gaza and Egypt. It is their responsibility to ensure that the border operates properly, in accordance with the signed agreements. Israel expects the Egyptians to solve the problem. The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting (22 Jan) to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. more..
Gaza rocket fire resumed
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 1/24/2008
Five rockets fired at Sderot Thursday evening; Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for first barrage in two days - Rocket fire from Gaza Strip resumed: After roughly 45 hours of relative quiet in the western Negav region, Palestinian terrorists fired five Qassam rockets at the southern town of Sderot Thursday evening. One rocket landed within the town while the others landed in open areas outside the city. No injuries or damage were reported in the latest barrage. At around 5:40 pm, the "Red Color" alert system warned of incoming rockets. A short time later, explosions could be heard in town. The Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rocket attack. Palestinian terrorists have not fired at Israel since 8 pm on Tuesday. That day, about 20 Qassam rockets were fired at Sderot and Gaza-region communities. more..
Fatah: More attacks to come
Ali Waked, YNetNews 1/24/2008
Al-Aqsa Brigades’ spokesman tells Ynet group plans more attacks in response to ’Israeli crimes’ - Fatah activists belonging to the "Brigades of Return" and to "Black September" claimed responsibility for carrying out the shooting attack in Shoafat Thursday evening. The attack left one Israeli dead and another one seriously wounded. A spokesman on behalf of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Fatah’s military wing, told Ynet that the attackers "returned to their base safely." The Fatah spokesman called a Ynet reporter to claim responsibility for the attack and said it marked the continuation of the organization’s new policy, as reported last week in another talk with Ynet. In that talk, the group said it was no longer committed to the calm with Israel and added that small cells were again active across the West Bank in order to prepare for a series of attacks. more..
Palestine Today 012408
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 1/24/2008
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || File 3. 67 MB || Time 4m 0s || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Thursday January 24th, 2008. The Israeli army kills one Palestinian and injures another in Gaza, and in the West Bank troops kidnap seven civilians, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Medical sources reported one Palestinian killed and another injured in the Israeli shelling of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on Thursday at dawn. Local sources said that Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded the border area of Beit Hanoun and opened fire at the residents’ homes. Israeli sources stated that troops killed 1 Palestinian and injured another; the army also stated that troops kidnapped 56 Palestinians during the operation that ended early Thursday morning. more..
The Israeli army kills two Palestinians in two separate attacks on the Gaza Strip
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/23/2008
The Israeli army killed two Palestinians on Wednesday in two separate attacks in the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday midday a Palestinian farmer, Isma’el Al Attar, 50, was killed when Israeli army tanks stationed North West of Beit Lahiya town located in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and opened fire at him while he was working on his land. Witnesses said that the farmer was working his land along with other farmers when tanks opened fire at them, the witnesses added that there was no provocation made by anyone in the area towards the army. Medical sources said that Al Attar suffered multiple gun-shot wounds in the head and died instantly. Earlier on Wednesday morning Israeli forces invaded the border area of Karm Abu Mo’amar, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, during the invasion that lasted for three hours Israeli troops killed one Palestinian and injured another four. more..
7300 housing Units to be constructed in Israeli settlements located inside and around Jerusalem
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/23/2008
The Israeli municipality controlling the occupied city of Jerusalem approved 7300 new housing units to be added to five Israeli settlements located inside and around the city of Jerusalem. The announcement was made by the Mayor of the Israeli municipality, Youri Lewinski during an interview he made with the Israeli TV Channel 2 on Tuesday evening. Lewinski said that 3000 units will be added to Gilo settlement inside Jerusalem and around 1700 will be added to Bisgat Za’iv settlement, 1000 to Harhuma settlement 1200 in Ramot settlement and 400 in Navih Yakov settlement. Israeli media sources stated that the new construction order was made by the settlement planning committee and the Israeli Jerusalem municipality; the sources added that the Israeli Prime Minister Ehod Olmert was not informed of this plan and he was forced to accept it as a reality. more..
Eight Palestinian kidnapped by the army during invasion in several parts of the West Bank
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/23/2008
Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli army conducted several pre-dawn invasions that targeted Palestinian cities and villages located in the northern and central parts of the West Bank and kidnapped eight Palestinians on Wednesday. Two civilians were kidnapped when the Israeli army attacked and searched homes in Al Amari refugee camp and the village of Ein Ereek, both located near the central West Bank city of Ramallah. Witnesses to the two attacks said that troops searched and ransacked homes then took the two men to unknown locations; the two men were identified as Mohamed Awad, 23, from Ein Ereek village, and Dia’ Jabber, 18, from Al Amari refugee camp. Meanwhile five Palestinian civilians were kidnapped when Israeli troops invaded the villages of Zbuba and Seliat Al Harthia located near the northern West Bank city of Jenin. more..
Israel’s withholding of maps still hampers demining
IRIN News.org, Daily Star 1/24/2008
ZAWTAR WEST: Deminers clearing Israeli-dropped cluster bombs in South Lebanon are turning up an average of 10 new sites per month, while Israel continues to ignore requests for data that would assist clearing the estimated 1 million unexploded bomblets, which continue to kill and maim civilians and decimate rural livelihoods. A single cluster bomb can disperse hundreds of bomblets. "All these weapons systems are computerized and grid references are entered before the bombs drop. Not receiving the cluster-bomb strike data from the Israelis remains our biggest obstacle to clearance," Dalya Farran, a spokeswoman for the UN Mine Action Coordination Center for South Lebanon (MACC), told IRIN. The UN estimates that Israel rained down approximately 4 million bomblets - most US-supplied - onto South Lebanon in the last three days of its summer 2006 war against Lebanon, when a cease-fire had already been agreed. more..
After a one day respite on Tuesday, Israel resumes fuel blockade of Gaza strip
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 1/23/2008
Israeli sources announced on Wednesday that the Israeli army had stopped all fuel and food supplies shipments from interring the Gaza strip on Wednesday. The Israeli government said that its decision comes as a response to the Palestinian resistance destroying the Wall separating the southern part of the Gaza strip from Egypt in order to allow the Palestinian people to leave Gaza and shop for supplies in Egypt and come back to the Coastal region. Israeli army officials held the Egyptian army responsible of policing the borders since Israel claims that it has no troops at this section of the borders. On Wednesday at dawn the Palestinian resistance destroyed part of the Wall separating the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah from Egypt using five home made bombs, shortly afterwards thousands of Palestinian flocked through and started to buy food and fuel supplies from Egypt to bring... more..
Almost 2,500 new settler homes planned for East Jerusalem
Daily Star 1/24/2008
Israel has authorized the construction of nearly 2,500 new housing units in settlements across Occupied East Jerusalem, municipal officials authorities said on Wednesday. Palestinian officials slammed the move, saying it threatened to torpedo the peace negotiations the two sides revived under US stewardship in late November after a seven-year freeze. Municipal spokesman Gidi Shmerling told reporters that the city authorities "have obtained all the necessary authorizations for the building of 8,000 new housing units in Jerusalem." According to a list which was circulated Wednesday, 2,461 units are in neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians plan to make the capital of their promised state. Construction, officials said, is due to begin shortly in the Jewish areas of Ramot, Pisgat Zeev, Armon Hantsiv and Har Homa in the eastern part of the Holy City. more..
Hamas militant killed in IDF arrest raid in southern Gaza Strip
Yuval Azoulay and Avi Issacharoffs, and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 1/23/2008
Israel Defense Forces troops killed a Hamas militant during a military operation in the southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday, Hamas sources said. The IDF confirmed that infantry and special forces had entered the southern Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday, conducting an arrest operation in the area between Khan Yunis and the Sufa Checkpoint. The army said militants opened fire on the troops, who returned fire, killing one of the militants. Some 20 militants were detained and taken to Israel for questioning. Residents reported that IDF tanks crossed into the territory after the clash. On Tuesday, at least 20 Qassam and mortars were fired at Sderot and the western Negev from the Gaza Strip. Related articles: Gazans flood across breached Egyptian border They neither see nor remember Palestinian water authority:... more..
Hamas militant killed in IDF raid in southern Gaza
Ha’aretz 1/24/2008
Israel Defense Forces troops killed a Hamas gunman during a military operation in the southern Gaza Strip early yesterday. Special forces had entered the area in a round-up raid when militants opened fire on the troops, IDF sources said. The troops fired back, killing one of the militants. Some 20 militants were detained and taken to Israel for questioning. In another operation in the West Bank, IDF troops yesterday arrested 13 Palestinians and took them in for questioning. (Yuval Azoulay) [end]
IDF kills gunman in Gaza as Palestinians return from Sinai
Ali Waked, YNetNews 1/23/2008
Palestinian movement into Egypt slows; Egyptians say not planning to reseal border with Gaza anytime soon. IDF continues operations in Strip - IDF forces killed an armed Palestinian militant as he was attempting to launch an anti-tank rocket at the troops near Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip late Wednesday night. As the IDF was operating in the Strip, the movement of Palestinians into Egypt over the destroyed wall that once formed their border calmed down considerably. Palestinians in the coastal enclave reported that the vast majority of those who crossed into the Sinai Peninsula had already returned - except businessmen who stayed in Egypt to work and the sick and infirm who sought treatment in Egyptian hospitals. Palestinians also reported that many of those returning brought with them goods and livestock from their trip to Egypt. more..
IDF finds dangerous prohibited substances in factories near Nablus
JPOST.COM STAFF, Jerusalem Post 1/24/2008
Dangerous prohibited substances were found in two factories east of Nablus in a joint IDF, Civil Administration and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation, the IDF announced Wednesday night. Among the substances found in the Tuesday night operation, were four containers of Formalin, two containers with over 50-percent concentration of Acid Sulfate, 24 containers of Acid Sulfate, four boxes containing Silver Nitrate, two bottles containing over 30% concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide and one liter of Nitrate. The army said that the substances discovered can be used for the production of weaponry and explosives, adding that the IDF operations will continue in order to prevent the transfer of banned substances into the Palestinian territories. more..
Two sentenced for Israeli deaths
Al Jazeera 1/23/2008
A Palestinian Authority court in the occupied West Bank has sentenced two Palestinians to 15 years in jail for killing two Israelis last month. The Palestinians shot two off-duty but ar