| News |  |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conflict
A Palestinian man dies as tunnel collapses at the Gaza-Egypt borders
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/28/2009
A Palestinian man died on Saturday as an under ground tunnel collapsed at the Gaza-Egypt borders, Palestinian sources reported. Doctors said that the man was suffocated to death after he was covered with rubble inside the tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Meanwhile Palestinian resistance groups fire two home-made shells at Israeli targets in Ashklon city near the Gaza Strip. Israeli sources said that one of the fired shells hit a school and the other landed in opened areas, both caused damage but no injuries. [end]
2 Grad rockets hit Ashkelon; no injuries
Tova Dadon, YNetNews 2/28/2009
Color Red alert system sounds in southern city at 8:45, loud explosions follow; one rocket lands near educational institution, number of residents suffer shock; two Qassams lands Negev region -Two Grads were fired by Palestinian gunmen in north Gaza toward Ashkelon Saturday morning. One rocket hit near an educational institution in the southern coastal city, and a number of residents were treated for shock. The second rocket landed in an open area outside the city. There were no reports of injury or damage. At around 8:45 am the Color Red alert system, which warns of incoming projectiles, sounded in the southern Israeli city, followed by reports of loud explosions. A Qassam rocket fired from Gaza at approximately 10 am landed in an open area within Eshkol Regional Council limits. There were no reports of injury or damage. more.. e-mail
A Palestinian man dies of wounds sustained last month
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/28/2009
A Palestinian man from Gaza died on Saturday due to wounds he sustained last month during the Israeli military offensive, Palestinian medical sources reported. Doctors said that Nihad Abu Ikmel, 29, died on Saturday at an Egyptian hospital, they added that he was send their after sustain wounds in his head. The Israeli military offensive lasted for 22 days and ended on January 18th, it left at least 1,400 Palestinian killed and more than 6,000 injured more.. e-mail
Gazan man wounded during war succumbs to his wounds in Egypt; war’s death toll reaches 1,453
Ma’an News Agency 2/28/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip confirmed on Saturday the death of the 1,453rd Palestinian from Gaza as the result of the three week Israeli war on the Strip. Twenty-seven-year-old Nihad Abu Kamil was receiving treatment in Egypt after sustaining gunshot wounds, one to the head, from Israeli fire on 13 January. Abu Kamil had been standing in front of his home in Al-Mighrafa neighborhood of Gaza City when Israeli tanks opened fire. According to the victim’s family, the body of the young man has not yet returned from Egypt for burial in Gaza. [end]
Gaza rockets target Israeli town
Al Jazeera 2/28/2009
Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip have fired five rockets at Israel, one of which hit a school, according to Israeli officials. Some of the rockets landed close to the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire declared both by Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. There were no casualties reported in the rocket attacks. The ceasefire, declared on January 18, ended Israel’s three-week military assault in Gaza which killed at least 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. Since the end of Israel’s Gaza offensive, Palestinian fighters have fired more than 100 rockets and mortar rounds at Israel. Israel has also carried out several air raids targeting alleged fighters, weapons caches and smuggling tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border. more.. e-mail
At least six Gaza rockets hit southern Israel
Ha’aretz 3/1/2009
At least six rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel Saturday, with one striking next to a school in Ashkelon and another striking an open field in the city. The other rockets hit open fields in the Eshkol and Sdot Hanegev Regional Council areas. No injuries or damage were reported. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said the Ashkelon school was closed, averting injuries. Several people were treated for shock by paramedics who arrived at the scene. On Friday night, a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza hit the Sdot Hanegev area. No casualties or damage were reported in the incident. Earlier on Friday, a rocket struck the western Negev, following two rockets fired on Thursday. The rocket fire highlights the fragility of the truce between Israel andGaza’s ruling militant group Hamas. more.. e-mail
Ten rockets strike southern Israel, one damages Ashkelon school
Ha’aretz 3/1/2009
Ten rockets from the Gaza Strip struck Israel yesterday. Six targeted Gaza-area communities, two hit Ashkelon, one landed in the Eshkol district and one near Sdot Negev area, the Israel Defense Forces said. There were no casualties or property damage, with the exception of one rocket that struck an empty schoolyard in Ashkelon. The school was severely damaged, with shrapnel hitting some of the classrooms - including areas the Defense Ministry had defined as safe, Ashkelon municipal sources said. Deputy Mayor Shlomo Cohen slammed the "foot-dragging" in reinforcing the city’s schools. "The school that was hit was classified by the Home Front Command and the Ashkelon municipality as unfortified, and we have been requesting that this school be given basic, inexpensive protection. The solutions offered were approved by both us and the Home Front Command, and have been lying. . . more.. e-mail
Experts: Grads in Ashkelon were advanced
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 3/1/2009
Grad rocket that penetrated school’s fortification was of a type rarely fired, with vast potential for damage. In all seven rockets fired into Israel from Gaza Saturday -Palestinian fire on the Negev continued Saturday, with terrorist groups making use of more advanced weaponry. Experts say the two Grad rockets that landed in Ashkelon Saturday morning were new and improved models, capable of greater destruction than those usually fired from Gaza. One of the rockets hit a school in the southern city, and succeeded in penetrating the fortification used to protect it from projectiles. Police said Saturday evening that since the end of Israel’s offensive in Gaza 64 rockets and mortar shells have hit the battered South, lightly wounding four people and causing 14 to suffer from shock. more.. e-mail
Israel planning mass expansion of West Bank settlement bloc
Akiva Eldar, Ha’aretz 2/27/2009
Despite the state’s formal commitment not to expand West Bank settlements, a government agency has been promoting plans over the past two years to construct thousands of housing units east of the Green Line, Haaretz has learned. The plans, which have not yet been approved by the government, were drawn up by the Civil Administration, the government agency responsible for nonmilitary matters in the West Bank. Details of the plans appear in the minutes of the agency’s environmental subcommittee, which were obtained by the B’Tselem organization under the Freedom of Information Act. The plans propose the initial construction of 550 apartments in Gva’ot, located near Alon Shvut in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, followed by construction of another 4,450 units at a later stage. At present, Gva’ot is inhabited by 12 families. The neighboring settlement of Bat Ayin, which has about 120 families, is slated to receive another 2,000 apartments, according to the plans. more.. e-mail
Israeli soldiers raid, loot Palestinian village cut off by barrier
The Daily Star and Inter Press Service, Daily Star 2/27/2009
RAMALLAH : "They started smashing down doors at 2 a. m. last Wednesday before moving through homes and destroying property," says Jayyus MayorMohammad Taher Shamasni. "Residents were assaulted, money was stolen, computers confiscated, over 60 young men arrested and the village placed under curfew. The Israeli soldiers came into my home and threw the contents of cupboards and closets onto the floor," Shamasni told IPS. Jayyus, an agricultural community of 3,500 inhabitants, located in the Qalqiliya district of the northern Occupied West Bank, was invaded by Israeli soldiers using police dogs and backed by military helicopters. The village has been the scene of frequent clashes between local youths, their Israeli supporters and international sympathizers on the one hand, and the Israeli military on the other. Dozens protesting Israel’s continued expropriation of village land were. . . more.. e-mail
Overnight: Israel bombs Rafah tunnels
Ma’an News Agency 2/27/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli warplanes bombed smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday night, the second such strike in several hours. The strikes on the Brazil neighborhood of the city of Rafah caused no injuries, according to the director of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Muawiya Hassanein. The Israeli military confirmed this second airstrike. Earlier Israeli aircraft bombed the same area in response to Palestinian homemade projectiles fired across the border into Israel. [end]
Qassam hits Gaza vicinity community
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/27/2009
Rocket fired by Palestinian gunmen lands in open area between Sdot Negev, Sha’ar Hanegev regional council; no injuries reported - A Qassam rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip landed in an open area between the Sdot Negev and Sha’ar Hanegev regional councils. There were no reports of injuries or damage. On Thursday evening, a rocket hit an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council without causing injuries or damage. "The rocket landed outside the community’s limits," said Niki Levy, the council’s deputy security officer. "The Color Red alert system was not activated, and luckily there were no injuries. "On Thursday morning, two Qassam rockets exploded in the Sderot area. One landed inside a house’s backyard. A mother and her son were treated for shock, and two adjacent houses were damaged. more.. e-mail
Report: Homemade projectiles land near Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/27/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – A homemade projectile reportedly landed in Israeli territory east of the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, causing neither injuries nor damage. On Thursday evening, another projectile hit an open area in the Eshkol area, East of Gaza, without causing injuries or damage. On Thursday morning, two such projectiles landed near the Israeli town of Sderot. Several hours later Israel’s air force responded by bombing smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza. Israel has vowed to retaliate for each projectile and mortar that is fired from Gaza. [end]
Israeli forces raid Beit Ummar, north of Hebron
Ma’an News Agency 2/27/2009
Hebron – Ma’an –Violent clashes took place in the village of Beit Ummar, north of the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday night when Israeli soldiers raided the village. Witnesses in Beit Ummar said that young Palestinian threw stones at the soldiers, who fired stun grenades and bullets. Clashes were also reported at the entrance of nearby Al-Arroub Refugee Camp. No one was injured in either incident. [end]
Israel planned expansion of West Bank settlements, documents show
Ma’an News Agency 2/27/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – A key Israeli government agency has been promoting plans to build thousands of new houses in illegal West Bank settlements, government documents made public on Friday show. Documents from Israel’s Civil Administration, the government organ responsible for nonmilitary affairs in the occupied West Bank, were obtained by the organization B’Tselem through a Freedom of Information request. The plans, developed over the last two years, were approved by the Environment Subcommittee of the Civil Administration’s planning wing and plot out a major expansion of the Gush Eztion settlement bloc. If realized the plan will cut a swath of the West Bank adjacent to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, and annex it to the new settlement areas. The initial construction would see 550 apartments constructed in an area beside the Allon Shevut settlement, followed by an additional 4,450. more.. e-mail
Israeli air force announces the usage of new unmanned plane model in Gaza
Maram Isid & agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/27/2009
The Israeli air force has used a new type of unmanned airplanes during the last moth military offensive on Gaza, Israeli media sources reported on Friday. The aircraft called “Etan” was used in combat during the 22 days long Cast Lead operation on Gaza that ended in mid January. The Israeli daily newspaper Yedeoth Ahronot reported. The military says the air craft can perform tasks without orders or control from the ground, like taking off and landing, the army also told the news paper this new model can fly for 24 hours constantly , hit targets and carry up to one ton of weight. According to the army sources the aircraft was developed during the past five years, now its wing is 26 meters long and can score speed up to 234 KM pre hour. Several EU countries have shown interest in this new plane, the Israeli army added. more.. e-mail
Report: Israeli forces faced challenge in Gaza tunnels
Ma’an News Agency 2/27/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli forces struggled to deal with tunnels dug by Palestinian fighters during combat in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli newspaper reported on Friday. According to the newspaper Ma’riv, armed Palestinian fighters moved through tunnels and would surface unexpectedly in the street or inside Palestinian houses. The newspaper quotes an investigation carried out by the Israeli military in the wake of its three-week operation in Gaza in December and January. The investigation found that the fighter’s unpredictable movements forced Israel to rely on air power, bombing houses where they suspected tunnels to exist. Ma’riv however reports that the Israeli military has now learned from its experience in Gaza and in the 2006 Lebanon war, where Hizbullah is said to have dug a vast network of tunnels for use in combat. more.. e-mail
Landmine explodes in Tubas killing 16 year old
Ali Samoudi for PNN, Palestine News Network 2/26/2009
Jenin - Palestinian medical sources report on Thursday the death of a boy and the injury of two others from a landmine. The boys were walking in the northern West Bank’s Tubas when the landmine, left over by the Israeli military, detonated killing 16 year old Jamal Abdel Nasser. The injured boys are described in moderate and critical conditions. Eyewitnesses told PNN that the three young students had left school for the afternoon and were roaming around eastern Tubas. The landmine exploded in the area that was sometimes used by the Israeli military for exercises. This was not the first time landmines were discovered in Tubas. Residents said the explosion was "very loud and travelled long distances. " Mohammed Khalil, 15, is seriously injured in his stomach while his 15 year old cousin Munir is suffering abdomen and hand injuries. more.. e-mail
Israeli air raids hit Gaza tunnels
Al Jazeera 2/25/2009
Israeli aircraft have bombed smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, damaging Palestinian homes near the border. Palestinians working in the tunnels in the southern town of Rafah are reported to have evacuated before the strike took place on Wednesday, and there were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military said that it undertook two raids in response to two rockets fired earlier by Palestinian fighters. The rockets hit southern Israel without causing casualties, an Israeli military spokesperson said. "We attacked seven tunnels near the [southern Gaza town of] Rafah. There were secondary explosions, showing they contained weapons material," the spokesperson said. "It was a response to two Qassam rocket attacks today and continued rocket fire. more.. e-mail
Patient dies as a result of Israel’s siege on Gaza
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/26/2009
Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that a Palestinian patient died on Thursday at a Gaza hospital after the Israeli occupation barred him from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment abroad. The patient was identified as Husam Mohammad Hallas, age 30, from al-Shujaeyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. He suffered from heart disease while the Israeli siege left Gaza hospitals unable to treat patients, as most of their equipment is out of service, and their medicine stores had run out of basic supplies. Hallas had all needed papers and transfer documents, but Israel still barred his transfer. It is worth mentioning that a relative of Hallas, identified as Shadi Abdul-Karim Hallas, died last week at a Gaza hospital because Israel also barred his transfer to a hospital abroad. The Ministry of Health in Gaza stated that with the death of Hallas, who died. . . more.. e-mail
Gaza toll reaches 1,452 as teenager dies of wounds
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Dozens of Palestinians marched on Wednesday in a funeral procession for yet another victim of Israel’s three-week assault on the Gaza Strip. The death of 17-year-old Abdullah Sleim raises the overall toll of the war to 1,452, according to the director of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Muawiya Hassanein. Sleim was transferred to a hospital in Egypt he was critically injured when Israeli forces bombed a house in the center of Gaza City on 14 January. Israel declared a ceasefire three days later. [end]
Palestinian child wounded by Israeli fire in Khan Younis
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/25/2009
Palestinian medical sources reported on Tuesday evening that a Palestinian child was shot and wounded in her left leg by Israeli military gunfire after the Israeli Army opened fire at a number of homes and orchards in Khuza’a town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The sources said that Wafa’ Al Najjar, age 16, suffered moderate wounds and was moved to Nasser Hospital, located in the city. It is worth mentioning that Tha’er Al Najjar, the brother of Wafa’, was shot and killed during last month’s Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. [end]
Israel seizes land in plan to encircle West Bank town with fence
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Israeli military has issued an order to confiscate farmland in order to build a 295-meter barbed-wire fence separating the West Bank town of Beit Ummar from an adjacent highway. According to the Beit Ummar’s municipal council, the town is appealing the decision in an Israeli military tribunal and with the head of the land department in the Civil Administration. Beit Ummar is located on the Jerusalem-Hebron road, south of the city of Bethlehem. Officials in the town say the residents are constantly attacked by the Israeli soldier staffing a checkpoint on the road at the entrance of the town. These attacks include nighttime raids on homes, shootings, and arrests. These incidents have also been reported to Israeli and Palestinian Authorities. more.. e-mail
Israeli bulldozers uproot trees near West Bank checkpoint
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Tulkarem – Ma’an – Israeli military bulldozers on Wednesday morning began uprooting olive and almond trees on both sides of the Enav checkpoint, east of the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Witnesses said that the Israeli army appeared to be clearing the way to expand the military checkpoint. [end]
Israeli E1 scheme for East Jerusalem blocks access, destroys possibility of growth
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 2/25/2009
PNN exclusive - Dr. Rafiq Husseini, Abbas’s chief of staff, said yesterday that current Israeli policy aims at expelling Palestinians from Jerusalem and removing the city itself from negotiations. But Jerusalem shares the highest priority for Final Status along with refugees and a withdrawal to ’67 borders. "There will be no peace in the region without Jerusalem as the capital of an independent state," Husseini said. This came during a tour called for by the Palestinian presidency with accredited foreign consuls in Jerusalem to view the latest developments in the settlement projects in East Jerusalem and in particular the E1 settlement scheme. "The E1 plan would separate the northern and southern West Bank from East Jerusalem and prevent natural growth for Palestinian towns but leave it open for settlement expansion, which would prevent the establishment of Palestinian state," Dr. more.. e-mail
Palestinian landowners kept in dark over Efrat settlement expansion
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – An Israeli military tribunal has issued a decision that could pave the way for the expansion of the West Bank settlement of Efrat without informing a group of Palestinians who were petitioning to save their land. In the ruling, a court in the settlement of Ofer rejected eight separate petitions, each representing dozens of Palestinians. The petitioners had objected to a 2004 declaration by the Israeli Civil Administration to designating some 1,700 dunums (1. 7 million square meters) of land north of Efrat “state land. ”The land at stake belongs to the Palestinian village of Artas, on the southern outskirts of Bethlehem. A catholic monestary is located just to the norht of the land slated for confiscation. If the Israeli Defense Ministry approves it, the seizure of this land could result in a massive expansion of the settlement. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 022609
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/26/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 4 m 00s || 3. 66 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Thursday, February 26th, 2009. Palestinian man dies in Gaza due to the Israeli siege and a boy is killed by an Israeli explosive device in the West Bank. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned. The Newscast A Palestinian patient died on Thursday at a Gaza hospital after the Israeli army barred him from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment abroad, Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported. The patient was identified as Husam Hallas, 30, from Al Shujaeyya neighborhood east of Gaza City. He suffered from a heart disease which the Israeli siege left Gaza hospitals unable to treat as most of their equipment is out of service and their medicine stores are out of basic supplies. more.. e-mail
The Israeli Army kidnaps four civilians from Jenin and nearby village
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/26/2009
Four Palestinian civilians were reported kidnapped by Israeli troops during night and pre-dawn invasions, targeting the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and the nearby Ya’bod village on Thursday. Witnesses said that Israeli troops stormed Jenin city, searched homes in the downtown sector, then kidnapped Hilal Zidan, age 26, and took him to an unknown detention camp. Earlier on Wednesday night, local sources stated that Israeli forces kidnapped three youths from the village of Ya’bod near Jenin while trying to plant an explosive device at the nearby settler road, Israeli military sources reported. The families of the three boys told local media that the boys were on their way back home, and did not have any explosives with them. more.. e-mail
Three Palestinians seized from village near Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers seized three Palestinian teenagers from the West Bank village of Yabud, near Jenin, on Wednesday on charges of throwing stones at Israeli troops. According to the Israeli account of the arrest, the youths were discovered in possession of an explosive device, which was safely detonated on the location of the arrest. Local sources in the village said that the troops detained Ali Muhammad Amarneh and Iyad Ahmad Qabha, both 18. The third arrestee is still unknown. Palestinians in the village said that the three threw the explosive devices at the troops passing on the main road in the village. The sources added that the troops seized the youths and brutally assaulted them. more.. e-mail
Boy killed by explosives left by Israeli soldiers in Tubas
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Tubas – Ma’an – A Palestinian child was killed and two others injured when ordinance left behind by the Israeli army exploded in the West Bank town of Tubas. Palestinian medical sources in Ash-Shifa hospital in Tubas said that 15-year-old Jamal Abed An-Naser Al-Fuqaha died. Sixteen-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Fuqaha and 17-year-old Mohammad Khalil Al-Fuqaha were injured in the explosion. Their wounds were described as moderate and slight. A spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority’s security services said “The incident occurred in an area called Barda, seven kilometers east of Tubas, where there are many training grounds for the Israeli army. ”[end]
Palestinian boy killed in northern West Bank due to explosive left by Israeli Army
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/26/2009
A Palestinian boy from Tubas city, in the northern West Bank, was killed on Thursday afternoon after an explosive device left by the Israeli Army exploded next to him. Jamal Faqha, age 16, sustained injures in the chest and abdomen, doctors reported. They added that a metal object hit the boy’s heart, instantly killing him. Meanwhile, medics said that aother three young teenagers sustained moderate wounds as a result of the explosion. The Israeli Army has yet to release a statement regarding the incident. [end]
Israeli forces seize eight Palestinians in West Bank raids
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli forces detained eight Palestinians across the West Bank during early morning raids on Thursday. The Israeli army confirmed that it seized eight so-called “wanted” Palestinians from Jenin, Ramallah and Hebron. They said the arrestees were taken for interrogation. [end]
Israeli soldier escapes capture attempt north of Jerusalem
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Bethlehem - Ma’an – Israel declared a state of alert on Wednesday after a Palestinian man attempted to steal a soldier’s gun near the illegal settlement of Givat Ze’ev, Israeli sources said. The man reportedly fled in his car after failing to steal the gun, sources added. Meanwhile, the Al-Quds Liberation Brigades announced a capture attempt of an Israeli soldier near a petrol station at the same settlement north of Jerusalem, according to a statement. The Brigades said in the statement to Ma’an that “the soldier escaped, while the Brigades withdrew from the area for the safety of our members. ”The statement added that “the operation comes within a series of many more to be carried out by Brigades members against Israeli targets. ” more.. e-mail
IOF troops round up 24 Palestinians
Palestinian Information Center 2/25/2009
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday arrested 24 Palestinian citizens in various West Bank areas in line with its semi-daily detention campaign. Local sources said that 15 citizens were rounded up in Ramallah districts and refugee camps while five were arrested in Bethlehem city and nearby villages including a man in his fifties. An IOF unit detained four other citizens in the Jericho district. IOF soldiers stormed the Yamun village, Jenin district, and broke into the home of Bajes Hamdia at the pretext that he was wanted for the Israeli intelligence but could not find him. The soldiers forced all inhabitants in Bajes’s home and nearby houses out of their homes for field interrogation that continued for several hours. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces seize 22 Palestinians in West Bank raids
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Israeli military said on Wednesday it detained 22 Palestinians during raids in the West Bank overnight. Israeli forces seized two people from the villages of Hindaza and Al-Asakira, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that about 13 military vehicles raided Al-Asakira and Hindaza. Israeli soldiers arrested 19-year-old Mohammad Ariddah Asakira from Al-Asakira, and Usayd Hassan Wardiyan from Hindaza, taking both from their homes. In the town of Al-Khadr, also south of Bethlehem, Israeli forces detained on Tuesday morning 25-year-old Marwan Abu Ghalyoun. Four others were reported detained in the city of Jericho, and 15 in Ramallah. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces beat and arrest Palestinian police officer near Nablus
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli forces on Wednesday morning assaulted and detained a Palestinian officer at the Huwwara military checkpoint south of the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Witnesses told Ma’an that several Israeli soldiers attacked 32-year-old officer Ammar Qneibu when he tried to pass through the checkpoint in his car. Qneibu is an officer at Aqraba village police station south of Nablus. According to the witnesses, soldiers seized the man from his car, beat him, and took him away. Earlier, Israeli forces detained another Palestinian officer for several hours and denied him passage through the Huwwara checkpoint. [end]
Israeli troops attack party in al-Khader near Bethlehem
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/25/2009
Israeli Army forces attacked a party that was held in the village of al-Khader, near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem late Tuesday night. The party was thrown for Zakaryia Issa, age 29, who had just been released from an Israeli Army detention camp after serving seven years as a political detainee. Witnesses said that Israeli troops arrived to the party tent next to the Issa family’s home, fired tear gas and sound bombs into the celebrations and told the family to stop the party. al-Khader village was handed over to Palestinian Authority control, along with Bethlehem city, in the mid 1990’s. [end]
Teenagers among 12 detained from village near Ramallah
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Ramallah – Ma’an Exclusive – Israeli troops detained 12 residents from the Kharbatha Al-Misbah village west of Ramallah late on Tuesday. Most of the detainees are teenagers and all are between the ages of 17 and 20. They were seized when Israeli troops overran the village on Tuesday night. The abducted Palestinians were identified as:Adib Sammour / Fayez Harfoush / Muhamad Harfoush / Thaer Kasby / Abdullah Kasby / Ibrahim Kasby / Hany Harfoush / Mustafa Al-Habal / Muhamad Al-Habal / Nimer Harfoush / Ayman Harfoush / Nidal Al-Habal[end]
Israeli warplanes strike Rafah tunnels
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli warplanes bombed smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip along the Egyptian border. The airstrike took place in the Brazil neighborhood of Rafah, according to the director of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Muawiya Hassanein. No one was injured but property was damaged. The Israeli navy also fired on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Rafah on Thursday. No injuries were reported. The Israeli military said the airstrike was in response to two homemade rockets that landed in Israel earlier on Thursday. One of the homemade projectiles landed in the yard of a home in the Israeli border town of Sderot. According to the Israeli news agency Ynet, one woman was treated for shock, and two houses sustained minor damage. Another homemade projectile landed in the Sha’ar Haganev area, east of the Gaza Strip, causing no damage. more.. e-mail
Qassam ’explodes’ in Sderot; no injuries
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/26/2009
Rocket fired from Gaza causes minor damage to two homes; woman and her son treated for shock; another rocket lands in open area -A Qassam rocket fired by Palestinians in north Gaza Thursday morning exploded in the yard of a home in the western Negev town of Sderot. No injuries were reported, but a woman and her son were treated for shock, and two adjoining homes sustained minor damage. The Color Red siren, which warns residents of incoming projectiles, sounded in Sderot and surrounding communities at around 8:30 am; the rocket fired at Sderot landed shortly thereafter, and another Qassam fired by Palestinian gunmen landed near Sderot’s industrial zone, causing no injuries or damage. The owner of one of the damaged homes said "the rocket hit a tree situated between our two houses, but the other house sustained most of the damage. more.. e-mail
Two homemade projectiles fired from Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – A homemade projectile fired from northern Gaza landed in the yard of a home in the Israeli border town of Sderot on Thursday morning. According to the Israeli news agency Ynet, one woman was treated for shock, and two houses sustained minor damage. Another homemade projectile landed in the Sha’ar Haganev area, east of the Gaza Strip, causing no damage. A group calling itself Hizbullah in Palestine claimed responsibility for launching the two projectiles. They said these attacks were in response to Israeli policies on Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. On Wednesday morning, Palestinians fired two projectiles across the Green Line, causing no damage or injuries. Hizbullah in Palestine also claimed responsibility for that attack. A few hours later Israel’s air force retaliated by bombing smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza. more.. e-mail
Palestinian resistance group fires two homemade shells at Israeli targets near Gaza
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/26/2009
Palestinian resistance announced on Thursday that their fighters fired two homemade shells at Israeli areas near the Gaza Strip. The group calling itself the Hezbollah in Gaza said that its fighters managed to fire two homemade shells at the Negev area in Israel. Israeli media sources said that the two homemade shells landed near residential areas in the Negev, causing damage to property, but no injures. The Palestinian group said that the attack is in response to Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza, and other Israeli attacks. [end]
Islamic Jihad ’attacks Israeli patrol in Gaza’
Ma’an News Agency 2/26/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said that they attacked an Israeli military vehicle east of Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp in the middle Gaza Strip. The Al-Quds Brigades said they fired two-rocket-propelled grenades at the vehicle. There has been no confirmation of this from the Israeli side. The Israeli army routinely patrols a buffer-zone along the border inside the Strip. [end]
Israeli helicopters bomb tunnels in southern Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/25/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli helicopters on Wednesday afternoon bombed smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, along the border with Egypt. Witnesses said at least two missiles hit tunnels in the Salamand Brazil neighborhoods of the city of Rafah. There is no word yet on whether there were any casualties. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying that it targeted seven separate tunnels. Earlier, two homemade projectiles landed in open areas east of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning causing no injuries or damage. According to Israel, the projectiles landed in the Sha’ar Hanegev region. This was the first such attack since Monday. A paramilitary group identifying itself as “Hizbullah in Palestine” later claimed responsibility for launching the projectiles. The group said the attack marked the launch of a military operation they called “sacrifice for Jerusalem. more.. e-mail
IAF strikes Rafah smuggling tunnels
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 2/26/2009
Hours after Palestinian gunmen fire rockets at Sderot Thursday morning, Israel aircraft bomb tunnels in Rafah area - The Israel Air Force launched two strikes against smuggling tunnels along the Philadelphi Route, near the Gaza Strip town of Rafah, in response to several bouts of rocket fire from northern Gaza on Israel. Gazans use the tunnels under the border with Egypt to smuggle weapons, food and other goods into the blockaded territory. The first strike took place on Thursday afternoon, following Qassam fire on Sderot. The second strike took place in the evening, after a rocket was fired at the Eshkol Regional Council. Thursday saw three rockets fired at Israel: Two Qassam rockets hit Sderot, causing two people to suffer shock; and a third landed in Eshkol Regional Council limits, causing no harm. more.. e-mail
Israel bombs Gaza tunnels ’in response to Qassam fire’
Ha’aretz 2/26/2009
Gaza militants fired three Qassam rockets into Israel on Thursday, one of which struck the yard of home in the southern town of Sderot. In retaliation, the Israel Air Force twice bombed smuggling tunnels in Gaza, near the border with Egypt. Five tunnels were targeted in the afternoon Thursday, and two additional tunnels were bombed Thursday evening. No one was hurt in the strikes. A number of people in Sderot were treated for shock after the attack, which caused damage to property. A second rocket hit an open area in the Sha’ar Hanegev region. Later Thursday evening, a third Qassam rocket hit the Eshkol region in the western Negev. No injuries or damage were reported. Gazans use the tunnels under the border with Egypt to smuggle weapons, food and other goods into the blockaded territory. more.. e-mail
IAF bombs Gaza tunnels after rockets hit Negev
Anshel Pfeffer and Agencies, Ha’aretz 2/25/2009
Israel Air Force aircraft bombed smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border on Wednesday after two rockets hit southern Israel, the army said. "We attacked seven tunnels near the [southern Gaza town of] Rafah. There were secondary explosions, showing they contained weapons material," the spokeswoman said. "It was a response to two Qassam rocket attacks today and continued rocket fire. "The Qassam rockets struck the Sha’ar Hanegev region in the western Negev on Wednesday. There were no reports of casualties in either incident. Egypt has been trying to broker a long-term ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of a 22-day offensive that the Israel Defense Forces launched in the territory on Dec. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces shoot Palestinian teenager in southern Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/24/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Seventeen-year-old Wafa An-Najjar was shot in the leg by Israeli forces on Tuesday near the borderline in the town of Khuza’a in the Southern Gaza Strip. Medical sources at Nasser Hospital in the nearby city of Khan Younis reported that the girl had a bullet in her leg. On Tuesday morning, international volunteers reported that Israeli forces opened fire on farmers near Khuza’a, about 300 meters from the Green Line. The volunteers, with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), were accompanying farmers on their lands. “One old woman was so paralyzed by fear that she couldn’t move off of the ground before we were finally able to accompany her out of the fields,” Bartlett added in a statement circulated by ISM. No one was reported injured in this earlier incident. Four Palestinian farmers have been shot on their lands near the Green Line in three weeks. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces raid school, TV station, houses in Nablus
Ma’an News Agency 2/24/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli forces invaded the West Bank city of Nablus early on Tuesday, raided a school and a local television station, and seized two people. Witnesses told Ma’an that more than 30 Israeli military vehicles entered the Old City and the surrounding neighborhoods at 12:30am. The soldiers destroyed the front doors of stores on An-Naser Street and other areas. The soldiers also raided the Thafer Al-Masri School near Ras Al-Ein in Nablus. Israeli troops stormed the Asia TV station and imprisoned the director of the station, Ayman Al-Qadiri, and two employees in one room. Al-Qadiri said more than 25 soldiers also raided his home, which is in the same building as the television studio, and detained his family along with him and the employees until the soldiers left in the morning. more.. e-mail
Israeli Army kidnaps five civilians from Hebron
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/24/2009
Five Palestinian civilians were reported kidnapped by the Israeli military during pre-dawn home invasions, targeting the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and nearby villages on Tuesday. Local sources stated that Israeli troops attacked and searched homes in the old part of Hebron, in the nearby Sa’er and Ithna villages. Witnesses said that Israeli soldiers searched homes and damaged belongings during the search. Five Palestinian men were all taken to unknown locations, the sources added. [end]
Israeli forces raid Nablus-area village
Ma’an News Agency 2/24/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli troops raided the West Bank village of Deir Sharaf, west of the city of Nablus, at midnight on Thursday. Sources in the village told Ma’an that Israeli troops handed out documents summoning eight people for interrogation by the Israeli intelligence services at the Huwwara military base on Wednesday. Omar Issa, Iyad Tabary, Rami Tabary, Imad Faqha, Nassar Faqha, Diya’ Faqha, and others were summoned. No arrests were reported. [end]
Israeli troops seize Palestinian man in Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/24/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli troops on Tuesday morning seized a young Palestinian man in the West Bank city of Jenin. According to Palestinian security sources, Israeli troops raided the home of Zahi Abdel Karim As-Sa’di in the Jabal Abu Thahir area. As-Sa’di’s son, Abdel Karim, 22, was detained. Witnesses said Israeli troops surrounded the house at 1:30am, ordering its inhabitents to evacuate into the street. The soldiers then raided the house and seized Abdel Karim, leaving the interior of the house in shambles. [end]
Israeli military kidnaps two civilians near Qalqilia
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/24/2009
Two Palestinian teens where kidnapped on Tuesday by Israeli forces that invaded the village of Jayous, located near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia. Witnesses stated that Israeli forces invaded the village and searched scores of homes. During the search, witnesses added that Israeli troops took Sa’ed Khaled, age 16, and Mo’anas Khaled, age 18, to unknown location. The village of Jayous witnessed a kidnapping operation by the Isralei military last week, in which 30 men from the village were taken. [end]
Three more arrested in Jayyous raid
Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Stop The Wall 2/24/2009
February 24th, 2009 Early this morning, Occupation forces continued their crackdown on the village of Jayyous and raided several more homes where they arrested three youth. This comes in the wake of last week’s rampage in which some 75 people were detained in a village school, some for as many as 17 hours. The raid began at two in the morning when seven military jeeps entered the village. Soldiers first forced their way into one house, where they arrested six brothers. After interrogating them, they released five of the brothers and abducted the sixth. They then moved on to two more homes, arresting one person from each. The three have been taken to a nearby military camp, where they are being held indefinitely. Sixteen youth from the village who were arrested in last week’s incursion are still being held there. more.. e-mail
IOF troops round up 11 Palestinians, raid private radio station
Palestinian Information Center 2/24/2009
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces have rounded up 11 Palestinians overnight Monday and at dawn Tuesday in various West Bank areas and raided a local radio station in Nablus city. The Hebrew radio reported that the IOF troops rounded up 8 Palestinians last night in the suburbs of Jenin, Qalqilia and Bethlehem cities, adding that they would be interrogated by the Israeli intelligence. It added that a ninth Palestinian was kidnapped from his home in Jenin after midnight Monday after ransacking his family home. Local sources in Nablus said that IOF troops stormed the village of Deir Sharaf west of Nablus city and summoned 8 Palestinians to the intelligence premises in Hawara army camp on Tuesday. In Nablus city, the IOF soldiers raided a number of suburbs at dawn Tuesday and retreated after kidnapping two young men. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 022409
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/24/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 3 m 00s || 2. 75 MB ||Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Tuesday, February 24th, 2009. The Israeli army kidnaps civilians from the West Bank and attacks a local media agency, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Two civilians were kidnapped by the Israeli army as it invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday and searched homes, a local TV station and a school there. Local sources said that at least 30 military vehicles stormed the city and searched homes and local shops, later troops took over a building in the city. The building hosts Assia TV station, a local TV Station in Nablus, according to the employees of the TV soldiers forced them to a room and kept them there until they left. more.. e-mail
Palestinian child hit with IOF bullets
Palestinian Information Center 2/24/2009
KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- A Palestinian child was hit with Israeli occupation forces’ gunfire east of Khan Younis district, south of the Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, medical sources said. They told the PIC reporter that Wafa’a Al-Najjar, 16, was hit with a bullet in her left leg and that she was carried to Nasser hospital where her condition was described as "moderate". The sources noted that IOF soldiers fired indiscriminately at citizens’ homes east of Khuza’a town injuring the young girl in the process. Wafa’a’s brother Tha’er was killed in IOF shooting during the Israeli war on Gaza last month. [end]
One year on, horror of yeshiva terror attack still fresh
Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 2/24/2009
A memorial will be held Tuesday afternoon marking one Jewish calendar year since a terrorist attack at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem killed eight yeshiva students. The memorial gathering will include a ceremony marking the conclusion of the work of scribes who are completing eight new Torah scrolls in memory of the eight victims. Netanel Furman, 21, who attends the Jerusalem yeshiva, still remembers the scene from a year ago. He was the first one to see the terrorist, who was wearing a black stocking cap and carrying a large carton, which looked like a box for a television set. "In passing him, I thought to myself that it was strange that someone would have ordered a television for the yeshiva. And after I had walked a matter of six or seven meters past him, I heard the shots, but it was only after I started running and saw the. . . more.. e-mail
Egyptian policeman shot, wounded near Gaza border
Reuters, YNetNews 2/24/2009
Policeman guarding warehouse of goods seized en route to smuggling tunnels in stable condition after being shot in the shoulder -Gunmen shot and wounded an Egyptian policeman guarding a warehouse of goods seized en route to tunnels near the Gaza border, security sources said on Tuesday. The 21-year-old policeman, named as Fathi Salman Mohamed, was taken to hospital in the border town of Rafah on Monday night with a wound in his right shoulder and is in a stable condition, they said. The gunmen escaped but police assume they are smugglers, who have attacked similar warehouses in the past, they said. The hundreds of tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border were among the targets in Israel’s recentoffensive against Gaza. Palestinians in the coastal enclave use them to smuggle in weapons and commercial goods, circumventing an Israeli-led blockade. more.. e-mail
Egyptian policeman shot, wounded near Gaza border
Reuters, Ha’aretz 2/24/2009
Gunmen shot and wounded an Egyptian policeman guarding a warehouse of goods seized en route to tunnels near the Gaza border, security sources said on Tuesday. The 21-year-old policeman, named as Fathi Salman Mohamed, was taken to hospital in the border town of Rafah on Monday night with a wound in his right shoulder and is in a stable condition, they said. The gunmen escaped but police assume they are smugglers, who have attacked similar warehouses in the past, they said. The hundreds of tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border were among the targets in Israel’s recent offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers. Palestinians in the coastal territory use them to smuggle in weapons and commercial goods, circumventing an Israeli-led blockade. more.. e-mail
420 acres of Bethlehem taken as 'state land' for settlement expansion
Ben White, Palestine News Network 2/23/2009
It is quite likely that you have not heard of the most important developments this week in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the West Bank, while it has been "occupation as normal", there have been some events that together should be overshadowing Gaza, Gilad Shalit and Avigdor Lieberman. First, there have been a large number of Israeli raids on Palestinian villages, with dozens of Palestinians abducted. These kinds of raids are, of course, commonplace for the occupied West Bank, but in recent days it appears the Israeli military has targeted sites of particularly strong Palestinian civil resistance to the separation wall. For three consecutive days this week, Israeli forces invaded Jayyous, a village battling for survival as their agricultural land is lost to the wall and neighbouring Jewish colony. The soldiers occupied homes, detained residents, blocked off access roads, vandalised property, beat protestors, and raised the Israeli flag at the top of several buildings. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces and resistance return fire in Gaza Strip
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/23/2009
The Israeli Army opened fire Monday at a Palestinian civilian’s car near the Israeli Gaza borders in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces at the borders also opened fire at Palestinians, as the Israeli Army claimed they were planting a home made bomb nearby the Kissufim military post at the borders. Shortly after Israeli troops invaded the nearby Al Maghazi Refugee Camp and fired at civilian’s homes, causing damage but fortunately no injuries have so far been reprted. The Israeli Army stated that the troops clashed with local resistance fighters. Meanwhile, Israeli sources stated that two homemade shells fired from Gaza landed in Israel, near the coast, causing no damage or injuries. In related news, Palestinian sources said that the Israeli Army allowed a few trucks loaded with cooking gas to enter the Gaza Strip on Monday. more.. e-mail
Sheikh Jarrah home under threat as 'abandoned'
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 2/23/2009
PNN exclusive -- It is not a claim of lack of permit or ownership by Jewish settlers that the occupying Israeli authority is invoking in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah today. Instead the home of the Farhan family will be demolished because the Israelis claim it is deserted. The Farhan’s have paid their taxes, their electricity and water bills, and also pay rent to owners the Committee of the East. But still they received an eviction order issued during a recent judicial decision of the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. The claim is that the house is abandoned although it has all the makings of any home including dishes, kitchen tools, electrical appliances, furniture and clothes. The house is a total area of 26 square meters with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and hallway. Ibrahim Farhan, his wife and mother live there. more.. e-mail
Settlers storm Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus
Ma’an News Agency 2/23/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Palestinian security sources reported on Monday that dozens of Israeli settlers backed by the army stormed the tomb of Prophet Joseph near Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Eyewitnesses told Ma’an’s correspondent in Nablus that the settlers who came to the area were backed by Israeli soldiers late on Sunday, around midnight. The settlers, as reported; entered the tomb under the pretext of performing religious rituals. The witnesses added that a number of Israeli military vehicles accompanied the buses by which settlers arrived to the area and waited two hours until they finished their rituals. [end]
Settler says escaped stabbing west of Nablus
Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 2/23/2009
Israeli driver claims two Palestinians attacked him with screwdriver near West Bank settlement of Shavei Shomron after staging accident scene. Security forces launch investigation; incident believed to be of criminal nature -An Israeli driver reported Monday that two Palestinians attacked him near the West Bank settlement of Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus. According to his report, the Palestinians staged an accident scene near the settlement and when he stopped to see if he could help, they attacked him with a screwdriver, tried to steal his car and proceeded to flee the area. The man filed a complaint with the Ariel Police. Security forces were dispatched to the area and began investigating the incident. The settlers claimed the attack was nationalistically motivated, but the defense establishment believes the attempt was of a criminal nature. more.. e-mail
Adjusted separation wall’s route isolates five Qalqiliya villages
Ma’an News Agency 2/23/2009
Qalqiliya – Ma’an – The route of the Israeli separation wall south of Qalqilia in the northern West Bank was adjusted to separate five Palestinian villages of Ras Tira, Wadi Ar-Rasha, Ad-Dab’a, Ar-Ramadin and Abu Farda Bedouin hamlets. According to Hadil Haneiti, an activist from the Popular Campaign Against the Wall, the adjustment came after a previous Israeli High Court of Justice decision in May 2006. “The adjusted route leaves Palestinian residents with two bitter choices; either to be isolated between four walls and be subject to humiliation on a daily basis as they have to go through the wall’s gate every day, or to be freed of this isolation, but the price will be losing all their agricultural lands and pastures,” said Haneiti. The route of the wall in that area will be three kilometers long, and 2,500 donums of land will be dug up, of which 70 percent is olive groves and the rest is used as pastures. more.. e-mail
IDF thwarts attack near Kissufim
Ali Waked, YNetNews 2/23/2009
Soldiers spot Palestinians attempting to plant explosive device near border fence, while assault helicopter opens fire at suspicious vehicle approaching fence. Shortly afterwards, Qassam rocket hits open area near Sderot - IDF says thwarted attack against its forces on Gaza Strip border:An Israel Air Force assault helicopter on Monday morning fired at a suspicious vehicle near the Kissufim crossing, on the Gaza Strip border. At the same time, a Golani force entered the Strip and exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen attempting to plant explosive devices along the border. The ground force directed the chopper to the suspicious vehicle. Shortly afterwards, at around 10:10 am, a Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in an open area near the southern town of Sderot. There were no reports of injuries or damage. more.. e-mail
Israeli airstrike, clashes in eastern Gaza as projectile hits Sderot
Ma’an News Agency 2/23/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – An Israeli airstrike targeted a private car east of Al-Maghazi in the Gaza Strip but no injuries were immediately reported. A spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, which is the militant wing of Islamic Jihad, said the airstrike targeted a group of fighters in a Magnum jeep in eastern Gaza. The spokesperson, Abu Hamza, added that fighters narrowly escaped the blast by leaving the cars moments before the airstrike targeted the car. Meanwhile, an Israeli helicopter fired toward Palestinian fighters attempting to plant an explosive device near the Kissufim crossings into Israel, according to Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Just after 10am, a projectile fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in an open area in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. There were no immediate reports of injury or damage in that attack. more.. e-mail
IDF attacks militant cell trying to bomb troops on Gaza border
Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 2/23/2009
An Israel Air Force helicopter on Monday attacked a group of Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip as they attempted to flee the border area where they had been planting explosives aimed against Israeli troops. The Israeli soldiers stationed near the Kissufim border crossing opened fire on the militants laying the explosives, and the IAF subsequently bombed the militants’ car as they tried to escape. Neither the soldiers nor the militants sustained any casualties. Shortly after the incident, a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an open field in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. Later Monday afternoon, another rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into the same area. There were no casualties or damages reported in either incident. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces and resistance fire in Gaza Strip
PNN, Palestine News Network 2/23/2009
Gaza -- In the Gaza Strip this morning Israeli forces targeted a civilian car. Shortly after, they opened fire on Palestinians allegedly attempting to plant an explosive device near the Kissufim military installation. Fire ensued as Israeli forces entered 500 meters into eastern Maghazi Refugee Camp where they surrounded a number of houses and began shooting. Israeli military sources say they used aircraft while firing at members of the armed resistance. Also today two reports were issued by Israeli sources of a projectile being launched from the Gaza Strip which caused no damage or injury. [end]
Palestine Today 022309
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/23/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 4 m 00s ||3. 66 MB ||Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Monday , February 23ed , 2009. in the news today calls for protests in the West bank against Israeli demolition orders on homes in Jerusalem and clashes are reported in Gaza , these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast The Israeli Army opened fire Monday at a Palestinian civilian’s car near the Israeli Gaza borders in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces at the borders also opened fire on Palestinians. The Israeli Army claimed they were planting a home made bomb nearby the Kissufim military post at the borders. Shortly after the incident Israeli troops invaded the nearby Al Maghazi Refugee Camp and fired at civilian’s homes, causing damage. more.. e-mail
Death toll rises to four in southern Gaza tunnel collapse
Ma’an News Agency 2/22/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – The death toll of Saturday’s Rafah tunnel collapse rose to four on Sunday as medics discovered three additional bodies under the debris. Workers found the first corpse on Saturday, and teams are still searching the rubble for a Palestinian missing since the collapse. According to medical sources, three bodies were taken to Abu Yousif An-Najjar Hosital in Rafah on Sunday after Palestinian civil defense staff searched the area. The Palestinian Health Ministry’s director of Ambulance and Emergency Services, Muawiya Hassanein, identified the victims as Rafi’ Al-Hawi, Ammar Abu Qura, Nihad ‘Ubeid, and Zeidan Al-Agha. A fifth man from the Sha’ath family is still missing. Hassanein highlighted that 63 people had died in tunnel accidents since the Israeli siege was imposed on the Gaza Strip, forcing Palestinians to use tunnels for smuggling goods from Egypt. more.. e-mail
IOA escalates judaization of holy city, plans demolition of 88 Palestinian homes
Palestinian Information Center 2/22/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authority is planning to demolish 88 Palestinian homes in Bustan suburb south of the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem and to dislodge its 1,500 inhabitants. Secretary general of the Islamic-Christian authority to support Jerusalem and holy shrines Hassan Khater said in a statement on Sunday that inhabitants of the Bustan suburb were in real danger after the Israeli municipality adopted a scheme that envisages removing the biggest section of the suburb to convert it into public parks. He charged that the scheme falls in line with a bigger plan that aims at judaizing the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque or the so-called "Holy Basin" area, which includes the demolition of the 88 homes in Bustan. The secretary general asked the inhabitants not to accept the Israeli-controlled municipality’s attempts to persuade them to leave their homes. . . more.. e-mail
New path of apartheid wall gobbles up more fertile lands in Qalqilia
Palestinian Information Center 2/22/2009
QALQILIA, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authority has started recently to put marks across the lands of the Palestinian village of Wadi Al-Rasha, south of Qalqilia city, in preparation to modify the path of the apartheid, separation wall in the area. According to the IOA, the step comes in accordance with an order issued by the Israeli "Supreme Court" to "end the isolation of five Palestinian villages" namely: Ras Taira, Wadi Al-Rasha, Al-Dhaba’a, Arab Al-Rammadheen, and Arab Abu Fardah. But for the Palestinians, the new path puts them before two "bitter" options, either to accept the status quo and remain isolated and cut off from the city, or to agree to the new path that would gobble at least 2500 dunums (1 dunum= 1000 sq. meter) of their agriculture lands and pastures. According to the popular committee against the wall, the length of the new wall is three kilometers and. . . more.. e-mail
Israel announces plans to demolish Palestinian homes near Nablus
Ma’an News Agency 2/22/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli forces on Sunday officially informed five Palestinian families from the Tana neighborhood in Beit Furik, east of Nablus, that their homes were slated for demolition. The head of Beit Furik’s local council, Abdul-Basit Haneini, told Ma’an that Israeli forces stormed the neighborhood and handed warrants to the families in question, ordering them to evacuate their homes as soon as possible for demolition. Haneini identified the families served with notices as Muhammad Nasasra, Dawood Khatatba, Abdul-Hamid Khatatba, Arafat Nasasra, and Radwan Khatatba. He highlighted that 25 other families were served notice in the past, and that 12,000 donums of agricultural land had been confiscated from the town, leaving just 6,000 donums for the land’s indigenous owners. more.. e-mail
IDF opens fire at Gaza militants launching mortars at soldiers
Yanir Yagna, Ha’aretz 2/23/2009
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip yesterday fired two mortar rounds at Israel Defense Forces soldiers near the border, Israel Radio reported. IDF troops operating in the Kissufim area identified the source of the rocket fire and opened fire in the direction of the launchers across the border. The strikes came amid an apparent stalemate in Gaza Strip truce negotiations, following Israel’s demand that a cease-fire be linked to the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Meanwhile, Egypt yesterday opened its Rafah border crossing with Gaza to let students, third-country residents and medical patients stranded in the Strip cross the usually closed frontier. Spokesman Adel Zourab said yesterday that Egypt had agreed to allow 500 students studying abroad and 500 others with valid residency permits for Egypt or other countries to pass through the border crossing. more.. e-mail
Qassam hits open area in Negev
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/22/2009
Rocket alert system activated at around 9:10 am Sunday in Sderot, nearby communities. Qassam explodes near border fence in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council; no injuries or damage reported - A Qassam rocket exploded Sunday morning in an open area near the border fence in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The Color Red rocket alert system was activated at around 9:10 am in the southern town of Sderot and the nearby communities, following the launching of a Qassam rocket from the Gaza Strip. A loud blast was heard in the area shortly afterwards. And on Northern FrontKatyusha hits Galilee community; 3 lightly hurt / Hagai Einav Rocket fired from Lebanon lands near home in northern community, lightly injuring three members of the same family ; sources say second Katyusha landed in Lebanese territory, launching. . . more.. e-mail
IDF finds its army bases not sufficiently protected against missiles
Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 2/23/2009
The Israel Defense Forces’ Operations Directorate last week established a new department in the General Staff, tasked with coordinating the security and protection of army bases. The decision to establish the department was made about a year ago, in the understanding that the bases could constitute a target in any future war, and also on the backdrop of the poor security situation in some of the camps. The establishment of the new department is part of a reorganization of the Operations Directorate, headed by Brig. Gen. Aviv Kokhavi. The department is supposed to identify the IDF’s security needs, following an analysis of the threat missiles and rockets pose for the home front. Both in the Second Lebanon War and in the recent Gaza campaign, the enemy (Hezbollah and later Hamas) attempted to aim the rockets at the bases. more.. e-mail
Israeli sources: Homemade shell-fire from Gaza into nearby Israeli towns continues
Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/22/2009
Israeli sources stated on Sunday that Palestinians continue to fire homemade shells from Gaza into nearby Israeli towns. As of today morning, the sources confirmed that a homemade shell was fired into the She’er Hanaigev area in southern Israel, with no causalities reported. Last night, sources reported that a Russian-made Grad rocket landed in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon (the historical Palestinian town of Asqalan or Almajdal), with no injuries or damages reported. Earlier yesterday, a homemade shell also landed in southern Israel, with no causalities reported. Continued homemade shell-fire from Gaza into nearby Israeli towns comes after Egyptian-mediated truce efforts reached a deadlock over the weekend, as Israel insisted that captured Israeli soldier, Gi’lad Shalit, is released before it enters into any truce deal with Gaza-based resistance factions. more.. e-mail
Homemade projectile hits western Negev; no injuries
Ma’an News Agency 2/22/2009
Bethehem – Ma’an – A homemade projectile fired from northern Gaza struck near the separation barrier at Israel’s border, according to a Hebrew newspaper. Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday morning that the rocket struck an open area near the wall, within Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council territory. No injuries or damage were immediately reported. [end]
One Palestinian man dead, six wounded and two missing in tunnel south of Rafah
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/22/2009
Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Saturday night that one resident was killed, and six others were wounded after inhaling gas that was reported to have been fired by Egyptian border police into a tunnel along the Gaza-Egypt border in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Eyewitnesses said that Egyptian forces fired a gas bomb into a tunnel in the al-Salaam area, causing one resident to suffocate to death, while six others were wounded and treated for gas inhalation, the Maan News Agency reported. The eyewitnesses added that two residents are still in the tunnel; and that attempts to locate them were still underway. Medical sources at Yousef Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah, stated that the slain resident and the six wounded were all rushed to the hospital. more.. e-mail
Five Palestinians found dead in Gaza-Egypt smuggling tunnel
News Agencies, Ha’aretz 2/22/2009
Gaza medics say five Palestinians have been found dead in a smuggling tunnel under the border with Egypt. Health official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain said the men suffocated in the cramped, makeshift tunnel. Local residents say they were smuggling food into the strip, which has been under a crippling blockade since the violent Hamas movement seized control there in 2007. Hassanain said the men died Saturday, but were only found on Sunday. The body of one man killed in the same incident was retrieved on Saturday making a total of five. Halting Gaza’s smuggling is a key issue in negotiations for a stable truce between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. The tunnels are used to smuggle food and consumer products, but also to run arms. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces detain young man in Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/22/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli forces detained a young man from Misliya village in southern Jenin on Saturday evening after breaking into his store. Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers stormed a number of stores in the area and detained 17-year-old Mohammad Abd Ar-Rahim Abu Arrob, taking him to an undisclosed location. The sources added that Israeli patrols stormed the village the same evening and clashed with youths who threw stones while Israeli forces fired live ammunition back. [end]
Extreme rightist banned from home of IDF West Bank commander
Yuval Goren and Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 2/23/2009
The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court issued a restraining order on Sunday against far-right activist Noam Federman, who was arrested earlier this month for demonstrating in front of the north Tel Aviv home of Israel Defense Forces West Bank commander Noam Tibon. During the incident, police also arrested a young girl, 17, who is a relative of Federman’s. She has since been remanded to house arrest. For some time now right-wing activists and settlers have gathered near the homes of senior IDF commanders to protest their policies towards Israeli inhabitants of the West Bank. During the hastily arranged protest, Federman and others shouted derogatory statements against Tibon and his family and they also drew complaints from neighbors. Federman, his 17-year-old female relative, and two others were arrested during the course of the protest. more.. e-mail
Court orders cops to pay rightist they beat at West Bank protest
Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 2/22/2009
The Jerusalem Magistrates Court on Sunday ordered two elite Border Policemen to pay NIS 4000 compensation to a rightist whom they beat at a demonstration. The incident occurred about a year-and-a-half ago near the settlement of Hashmonaim, where right-wing activists were rallying to call on Israel to continue settling the West Bank. Raphael Cohen, a member of the Border Police’s Yasam special unit, slapped Nahum Greenblum, one of the demonstrators, and repeatedly tried to pad him down. Gal Segev, His commander, strangled the demonstrator and threatened him with further violence. In the court ruling, Judge David Mintz rejected the claim by the state prosecution that that the suit was unjustified since Greenblum was not substantially wounded in the incident. more.. e-mail
Lebanon rockets wound Israelis
Al Jazeera 2/21/2009
A rocket fired from Lebanon has landed in northern Israel, wounding three people and prompting Israel to respond with an artillery barrage, the Israeli army said. A Lebanese security source said, however, that two rockets had been fired at Israel from near the city of Tyre on Saturday, and that Israel had responded by firing at least six shells into southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army said it found two wooden rocket launchers in the Qleileh-Mansouri area, south of Tyre. There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any group in Lebanon, while the Israeli army confirmed it had responded to the rocket fire with an artillery barrage. Al Jazeera’s Rula Amin, monitoring developments from Beirut, said it was the third time rockets had been fired from Lebanon into Israel since the military assault on the Gaza Strip. more.. e-mail
One dead after Egyptian forces fire gas bombs in Rafah tunnels
Ma’an News Agency 2/21/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – One Palestinian was killed and six others injured on Saturday when Egyptian forces fired gas bombs into a smuggling tunnel under the Egypt-Gaza border, south of the city of Rafah. According to witnesses, Egyptian security forces fired the gas into the tunnel in the As-Salam neighborhood. Two others are missing in the tunnels. A Medical source at Abu Yousef An-Najjar hospital in Rafah said that they “received the body of one man and six others injured out of a tunnel south of Rafah. ”Earlier on Saturday, Egypt deployed hundreds of police officers its border with the Gaza Strip fearing that Palestinian protesters would force their way out of the besieged territory. An Egyptian security official told Reuters that hundreds of Palestinians were planning a demonstration at the border, demanding that it be opened permanently. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces seize Palestinian at Al-Hamra checkpoint; hundreds denied passage
Ma’an News Agency 2/21/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli forces on Saturday seized a young Palestinian man at Al-Hamra checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley and denied hundreds of others passage through the checkpoint. Eyewitnesses named the detainee as Hamdan Bsharat from the northern West Bank village of Tammun, south of Nablus. Witnesses told Ma’an via telephone that more than 500 people were stopped at Al-Hamra checkpoint and denied passage in or out. Soldiers took the ID cards of some people which means they can no longer travel through any Israeli military checkpoint. The witnesses asserted that Israeli troops treated people harshly forcing them to move from under trees where they had taken shelter from heavy rain. more.. e-mail
Gaza blast leaves ’fighters dead’
Al Jazeera 2/21/2009
Two fighters have been killed apparently by Israeli army gunfire in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources say. The two Palestinians were killed early on Saturday in the Juhr al-Deek district of Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, Muawiya Hassanein, director of the local emergency services, told Al Jazeera. Palestinian witnesses said an explosion occurred when the fighters attempted to fire a mortar round towards Israel. Fierce clashes had erupted between Palestinian fighters and Israeli soldiers on Friday when Israeli forces attempted to raid the area, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza, said. The Israeli military denied any firing in the area but said that two mortar rounds were launched from Gaza overnight. No Palestinian faction has claimed the dead fighters as its members. Israeli forces have repeatedly raided areas in the east and south of Gaza during the past few days. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces seize three Palestinians in Qalqilia
Ma’an News Agency 2/21/2009
Qalqilia – Ma’an – Israeli forces on Friday morning seized three Palestinians from their homes in the Qalqilia district of the West Bank. Palestinian sources identified the arrestees as Muhammad Inaya, Muhammad As-Sarawi, and Ali Barham. The sources said Israeli soldiers vandalized the interior of each house during the raids. [end]
IOF troops invade different West Bank cities and villages
Palestinian Information Center 2/21/2009
Ramallah, (PIC)-- A large number of IOF troops stormed Saturday different West Bank cities and villages despite the presence of some PA security elements in the invaded areas and imposed a curfew on the town of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem. Palestinian local sources reported that a number of Israeli military patrols invaded the town amid intensive gunfire which started fire inside a Palestinian house. They added that the invading troops raided at dawn the house of a Palestinian citizen called Maher Jawda and handed his family a summons to appear at the intelligence headquarters in the Etzion settlement. The IOF troops also stormed areas in different part of Jenin without any reported arrests. In the Tamoun town, the IOF troops established a military checkpoint at the entrance to Tubas city and hindered the movement of Palestinian citizens, while children from the town threw. . . more.. e-mail
Qassam rocket hits near Ashkelon; no casualties
Yanir Yagna, Ha’aretz 2/22/2009
A Qassam rocket fired from Gaza hit near the southern city of Ashkelon late Saturday, causing neither casualties nor damage. The rocket strike was the first cross-border attack on Saturday, after Gaza militants fired 10 mortar shells and a Qassam rocket into the western Negev on Friday. Israel Defense Forces troops operating in the Kissufim area identified the explosions and opened fire in the direction of the launchers across the border. The strikes came amid an apparent stalemate in Gaza Strip truce negotiations, following Israel’s demand that a cease-fire be linked to the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. [end]
Rocket hits south Ashkelon
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/21/2009
Terror groups continue to target south; earlier Saturday, mortar shells fired from Gaza Strip - South under fire, again:A rocket landed in south Ashkelon around 10 pm Saturday, prompting residents to take cover in secured rooms. The rocket attack was preceded by a warning siren activated in the southern section of the city. No injuries or damages were reported in the attack. Local resident Alexei told Ynet: "A siren was heard and I immediately entered the secured room. It’s very nerve-racking. "He added that just before the rocket struck he wrote in an online forum that he is concerned about the renewal of attacks on the city. Ashkelon Deputy Mayor, Shlomo Cohen, who is in charge of security in the southern town, also expressed his concern about the continuation of infrequent attacks. more.. e-mail
Two Gaza families narrowly escape homemade projectile
Ma’an News Agency 2/21/2009
Khan Younis – Ma’an – Two families said narrowly escaped death when a Palestinian homemade projectile hit their apartments in Al-Farahin, east of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday night. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA quoted the owner of the apartments, Ahmad Abu Duqqa, as saying, “The projectile drilled through the roof causing serious damage. " "Only the heavens prevented a massacre," said Abu Duqqa, "as the projectile hit a bathroom next to my four grandchildren and their mother, who live with us after they fled their home because it is in the range of Israeli fire. ”Palestinian fighters usually fire homemade rockets, often fashioned from metal tubing packed with explosives, into Israel, where they cause much panic but little damage. more.. e-mail
Two killed by mysterious Gaza explosion
Ma’an News Agency 2/21/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Two Palestinian men were killed by an explosion in the town of Juhor Ad-Dik in the middle Gaza Strip on Saturday. The cause of the explosion near the Strip’s eastern border is not known. The Director of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Palestinian Health Ministry, Muawiya Hassanein, identified the victims as Hikmat and Ahmad Nassar, residents of the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City. The two were reported to be members of the armed wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, but Hamas has not confirmed this. Medical sources at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the townof Deir Al-Balah said the two bodies arrived torn to pieces, seemingly as a result of an explosion. An Israeli military spokesperson said the army has no information about an explosion or any other incident along the border on Saturday morning. more.. e-mail
Two Palestinians killed allegedly on way to ’kidnap’ IDF soldiers
DPA, Ha’aretz 2/21/2009
Two Palestinians were killed early Saturday outside Gaza City during what family members said was a mission to kill or capture Israeli soldiers. The family sources said Yaqoub and Ahmed Nassar were affiliated to the radical Islamic Hamas organisation but had cooperated with Israeli intelligence until Hamas discovered this nearly a year ago. Hamas had then assigned the two to carry out a suicide attack against Israeli soldiers on the pretext of fleeing Hamas and trying to cross into Israel. Palestinian medical staff recovered their bodies from Juhr al-Dik, a village near the border with Israel in southeast Gaza city, the sources said. Medical sources had conflicting reports on what caused their death. Some said it was the explosion, but others said the two had been gunned down. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman denied any involvement of Israeli forces in the deaths of the two. more.. e-mail
Israel kills two Palestinians near Gaza border
Middle East Online 2/21/2009
GAZA CITY - Two Palestinian resistance fighters were killed on Saturday in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces near the border of the besieged territory, Palestinian medics said. The two men were killed by Israeli shelling and gunfire in the village of Juhr al-Dik southeast of Gaza City, according to Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services, who identified the men as resistance fighters. An Israeli military spokesman said he had no information about any exchange of fire but said that two mortar rounds were fired from Gaza overnight. Both Israel and the democratically elected declared unilateral ceasefires on January 18 after a massive 22-day Israeli offensive on the territory that killed 1,300 Palestinians (mainly civilians) and 13 Israelis. The calm has since been repeatedly tested by Israeli attacks and Palestinian retaliation. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces assassinate two Palestinians in northern Gaza
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/21/2009
Palestinian medical sources reported that on Saturday at dawn an undercover force of the Israeli Army infiltrated into Juhr Ad Deek area, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and assassinated two fighters. Dr. Muawiya Hassanen, head of the Emergency Unit at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, said that the two fighters, Ahmad and Yacoub Nassar, were hit by multiple rounds in different parts of their bodies. The two slain fighters were moved to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip. The attack was carried out as undercover forces infiltrated into the north through an area close to the northern borders and ambushed a group of fighters. The assassination comes amidst repeated statements by Israeli leaders to carry further strikes and attacks in the Gaza Strip. more.. e-mail
Katyusha strikes village in north, 3 hurt
Amos Harel Eli Ashkenazi Yoav Stern and Jack Khoury, Ha’aretz 2/22/2009
A rocket fired from Lebanon struck northern Israel yesterday, lightly wounding three people and prompting Israel to respond with a brief artillery barrage. The Katyusha landed near a home in an Arab-Israeli town in the Galilee, damaging it. In addition to wounding three members of the Machimar family, the explosion sent two others into shock. Israel retaliated by firing at least six artillery shells into southern Lebanon, causing no injuries. No organization has claimed responsibility for launching the rocket, and Hezbollah denied having fired it. A second rocket landed inside Lebanon. Senior Fatah operative Sultan Abu-al Einin said that none of the organizations affiliated with Fatah are behind the launching. Yesterday’s rocket fire was the third in two months. The two previous incidents occurred during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, which ended last month. more.. e-mail
Hezbollah denies firing Katyusha into north Israel
Jack Khoury and Eli Ashkenazi , and Agencies, Ha’aretz 2/22/2009
Hezbollah on Saturday denied having fired a rocket from Lebanon that hit northern Israel earlier in the day, lightly wounding two people. Ibrahim Mussawi, a spokesman for the militant organization, told AFP that Hezbollah had "nothing to do" with the attack, which was launched from a region largely controlled by Hezbollah and its Amal party ally. Three other people were treated for shock after the attack, and a house was damaged, the Israel Defense Forces said. During the IDF’s punishing offensive against Hamas in Gaza last month, three Katyusha rockets were fired into northern Israel within a week, hitting Nahariya and Kiryat Shmona. Hezbollah, which has a large rocket arsenal, was behind the two rocket attacks. In both cases, the organization used proxy Palestinian militant groups to launch the rockets from southern Lebanon. more.. e-mail
Two Israelis mildly wounded in the Western Galilee
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/21/2009
Israeli sources reported Saturday morning that two missiles, fired from the Lebanese territories, struck an area in the Western Galilee: two Israelis were lightly wounded, and three others were treated for shock. The sources added that the police and medics arrived at the scene and found out that a 122-millimeter missile detonated in an area close to a home in the western Gallilee. The missile is similar to missiles fired by Hezbollah during the latest war between Hezbollah and Israel. Also, another missile was fired towards Israel but landed and detonated in Lebanese territory. The missiles were apparently fired from Mansouri area, south of Tyre. The sources added that the Israeli Army shelled an area in southern Lebanon, and a military spokesperson said that the army held the Lebanese government and Lebanese Army responsible for the attack, and said that the government and the army should foil such attacks". more.. e-mail
Israel shells Lebanon after rocket lands in Galilee - Palestinian factions deny responsibility
Ma’an News Agency 2/21/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – Israel shelled southern Lebanon on Saturday after a rocket landed in its territory in an exchange of fire across their tense border. A rocket fired from Lebanon landed near a house in the Western Galilee, lightly wounding three people. Israel responded by firing at least six artillery shells into southern Lebanon, causing residents to flee the border area in panic. The Lebanese resistance movement Hizbullah denied any connection to the attack. Ibrahim Mussawi, a spokesman for the group, told AFP that Hezbollah had "nothing to do" with the rockets. The Palestinian armed factions based in refugee camps in Lebanon also denied responsibility for the attack. The Secretary of Fatah movement in Lebanon, Sultan Abu Al-Aynayn said Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) factions had nothing to do with these Katyushas labeling the attack an “unconsidered action. more.. e-mail
Katyusha hits Galilee community; 3 lightly hurt
Hagai Einav, YNetNews 2/21/2009
Rocket fired from Lebanon lands near home in northern community, lightly injuring three members of the same family ; sources say second Katyusha landed in Lebanese territory, launching may be result of weather-related malfunction; IDF returns fire; Hizbullah denies involvement - A Katyusha rocket fired from Lebanon Saturday morning landed near a home in Israel’s western Galilee region. Three members of the family residing in the home sustained mild injuries in the attack, and two more suffered from shock. The wounded were treated by Magen David Adom paramedics and then evacuated to a hospital in Nahariya. The structure was damaged. Security sources in Lebanon said a second Katyusha landed in Lebanese territory. They said the rocket fire emanated from the area of Mansouri, south of Tyre, and that Israel responded by firing at least six artillery shells into southern Lebanon. . . more.. e-mail
Violence erupts on Israel-Lebanon border
Middle East Online 2/21/2009
BEIRUT - Israel shelled southern Lebanon on Saturday after a rocket slammed into its territory in a tit-for-tat exchange of fire across their tense border, sources on both sides said. Israeli public radio said the rocket landed near the Israeli town of Maalot near the Lebanese border. In Lebanon, panicked residents were fleeing the border area, where loud explosions could be heard, a media correspondent said. The Lebanese army said Israel had responded by firing artillery shells. UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon have set up checkpoints and were preventing people from heading into the area of the clashes, residents said. "The Israeli army considers this a serious incident and believes it is the responsiblity of the Lebanese government and the army to prevent this rocket fire," an Israeli army spokesman said. more.. e-mail
Katyusha rocket slams Galilee village
Palestinian Information Center 2/21/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- A Katyusha rocket was fired from southern Lebanon at a western Galilee village in northern Israel on Saturday mildly wounding three Israelis and inflicting material damage to one of the houses. The Israeli radio reported that the three injured persons were carried to a hospital in Nahariya while army and police forces rushed to the scene. The Israeli army retaliated by firing a number of artillery shells at the site from where the rocket was launched, the radio added. It quoted an army spokesman as saying that his command was seriously concerned with the intermittent firing of Katuysha rockets from southern Lebanon, holding the Lebanese army and government responsible for controlling the security conditions in south Lebanon. more.. e-mail
Youngest Arab Writer
Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 2/21/2009
PNN exclusive -- At fourteen Yasim Al Kamlawi is the youngest Palestinian to be singled-out for her creative writing abilities. This Nablus resident was given a certificate of excellence in the "service of her homeland and its people. "Al Kamlawi has attracted the attention of creative writers and journalists in Palestine and the Diaspora because of her contribution to the issues of childhood and youth. She was given an award last month by Arabic Translators International as a representative of Palestinian youth and now has the unofficial title of "youngest writer in the Arab world. "Her father, Ghassan Al Kamlawi, says, "literature is a paradox in the Palestinian arena in the interest of public policy and issues of life. "He talked about home-schooling his daughter and her love for literature and science. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces uproot newly-planted olive trees near Bethlehem
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli police and soldiers uprooted more than 100 newly-planted olive trees from privately-owned Palestinian land in the West Bank village of Al-Jab’a, southwest of Bethlehem. According to witnesses, between 10am and noon on Thursday, Israeli personnel uprooted each of the young trees individually, along with plastic protective tubes and wooden stakes. The trees had been planted by a crew of American and European volunteers last Sunday with a program organized by the Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) of the YMCA of Palestine. A JAI campaign officer visited the land on Thursday, confirming to Ma’an that the trees had been uprooted and taken away. The land is owned by a farmer named Abu Firas, who has documents dating to the Ottoman era proving ownership of the land. After the planting session on Sunday, Israeli authorities declared the south of Jab’a, including the planted area, a “closed military zone". more.. e-mail
Israeli forces seize 11 Palestinians overnight
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli forces seized 11 Palestinians during overnight raids in the West Bank, Israeli media reported on Thursday. Most of the detentions were in the cities of Ramallah, Jenin and Hebron. Palestinian sources have not yet confirmed who was detained. [end]
Egyptian man dies while smuggling gasoline into Gaza
The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/20/2009
An Egyptian security official says a man allegedly smuggling gasoline into Gaza burned to death in a tunnel. The official says police saw flames and smoke coming from what later turned out to be a tunnel entrance. They pulled two men from the tunnel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. A medical representative in North Sinai, Imad Kharboush, said one man died from his injuries. He said the other man, who was badly burned, escaped from the hospital. The tunnels are used to smuggle food, supplies and weapons into the blockaded strip. They were targeted by Israel during its Gaza offensive that ended Jan. 18 but since then smuggling has continued. more.. e-mail
Hammouri: Israeli schemes to overtake Jerusalem are beyond our ability to combat alone
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 2/20/2009
PNN exclusive - Director of the Jerusalem Center for Economic and Social Rights, Ziad Hammouri, said today that Israel has intensified the process of Judaizing the city of Jerusalem. While speaking with PNN he described the creation of a conclave through building the Wall and closing its gates. The Israeli administration is also moving towards full implementation of its Absentee Property Law. "The practice for Jerusalemites in the West Bank will be along the lines of the permits of the Gaza Strip, practices at the barriers will be similar. " At the Jerusalem Press Club Hammouri said that "relocation plans" are in the works for 72,000 to 80,000 people in the city. "This adds to the problem of confiscation of property of those not present in the city. " Early this week the Israeli administration closed the final gate in the Wall in northern Jerusalem, rendering the town of Al Ram effectively cut off. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces snatch Islamic Jihad man off Qabatiya street
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Jenin - Ma’an - Israeli special forces on Friday morning seized an Islamic Jihad leader from the West Bank town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin. Witnesses told Ma’an that the Israeli operatives riding in a civilian car with Palestinian license plates entered the vegetable market in the town. The Israelis stepped out of the car, besieged the area and then seized 25-year-old Hosni Muhammad Zakarneh, a member of the Islamic Jihad movement. Qabatiya is known for Islamic Jihad activity. Earlier this month, Israeli forces killed an Islamic Jihad fighter in the town in what they said was a botched arrest raid. Israel handed control of the town back the Palestinian Authority as a part of a US-backed plan to redeploy Palestinian security forces in the West Bank in the spring of 2008. more.. e-mail
Israeli troops kidnap leader of Islamic Jihad in Qabatiya
Maram Isid & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/20/2009
A special Israeli Army unit disguised in civilian clothes kidnapped this morning, a Palestinian activist, said to be a leader of the Islamic Jihad in a special operation near the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Witnesses said that the undcover soldiers used a vehicle bearing Palestinian license plates. Troops infiltrated the vegetable market of the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, Hosny and kidnapped Zakarneh, age 25. Eye witnesses spotted an Israeli aircraft flying at low altitude,along with about a dozen military vehicles surrounding the market until the operation was completed. The witnesses added that udercover troops handcuffed and blindfolded Zakarneh and took him to an undisclosed location. more.. e-mail
One injured, one arrested as clashes erupt near Hebron
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Hebron – Ma’an – A young Palestinian man was injured and another was arrested during clashes that erupted in a village north of the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that 23-year-old Ziad A’lami was shot in the right thigh by an Israeli soldier before being transferred to a city government hospital in Hebron. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Fadi Sabarneh was arrested by soldiers during the same incident. The Israeli military claimed through a spokesperson that soldiers “shot a young man near the town of Beit Omer, injuring him, in response to stone throwing” near the illegal Israeli settlement of Karni Tzur, near the village. [end]
Undercover forces raid Jenin area town, arrest 25 year old
Ali Samoudi for PNN, Palestine News Network 2/20/2009
Jenin -- An Israeli undercover unit disguised in civilian clothes invaded the northern West Bank on Friday morning. The target was a leader in the Islamic Jihad movement living in the town of Qabatiya, south of the city. Witnesses report that the special forces used an Isuzu vehicle bearing Palestinian license plates to infiltrate the area near Qabatiya’s vegetable market. Within moments of the grabbing of Mohammad Hosni Zakarneh, Israeli planes circled overhead at low altitude while a dozen military vehicles surrounded the market. The 25 year old is now in an unknown location. Throughout the West Bank this morning Israeli forces arrested 11 Palestinians during invasions ofRamallah, Jenin and Hebron. more.. e-mail
Man burned to death in Gaza tunnel
Reuters, YNetNews 2/20/2009
Egyptian police pull two men from smoldering entrance of tunnel used to smuggle fuel into Gaza - An Egyptian man was killed and two men were injured on Friday in a fire which broke out in a fuel tank at the Egyptian end of a tunnel used for smuggling supplies to the Gaza Strip, police sources said. They named the man as 24-year-old Mohamed Awad Eissa el-Shaer and said he died in hospital in the border town of Rafah with burns on 100 percent of his body. An Egyptian official said police saw flames and smoke coming from what later turned out to be a tunnel entrance. They pulled two men from the tunnel. A medical representative in North Sinai, Imad Kharboush, said one man died from his injuries. He said the other man, who was badly burned, escaped from the hospital. more.. e-mail
Two Egyptians injured as tunnel fuel pipeline explodes
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – One Egyptian man was killed and two others were injured after a fuel line exploded on the Egyptian side of a smuggling tunnel into the Gaza Strip, police said. No further information on the condition of those injured was immediately available. The killed man was identified as 24-year-old Mohamed Awad Eissa Al-Shaer, who reportedly died at a hospital along the Rafah crossings with burns across his entire body. Israeli media sources said that two Egyptians sustained burns after a pipeline exploded in an underground smuggling tunnel between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Sources added that the underground pipeline through which the fuel was being pumped remained on fire at press time. ***Updated 21:39 Bethlehem time more.. e-mail
Clashes reported in southern Gaza as mortars strike Israel
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian fighters said they fought with Israeli forces who attempted to invade the southern Gaza Strip early on Friday morning. The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said in a statement that it fired rocket-propelled grenades at invading forces east of the town of Al-Qarara, near the borderline with Israel. Sources in Gaza also said that Israeli artillery shelled houses in Al-Qarara. No one was injured. An Israeli military spokesman told Ma’an that he had no information about the incidents. Israeli forces routinely patrol the borderline, inside Gazan territory. At 9:30 on Friday morning, Israel reported that a barrage of 10 mortar shells landed in open fields in the Eshkol region, east of the Gaza Strip. No injuries or damage were reported. At 7:30, a homemade projectile reportedly landed in Palestinian territory inside Gaza. more.. e-mail
Ten mortar shells fired at Israel from inside the Gaza Strip
Maram Isid & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/20/2009
Palestinian resistance fired ten mortar shells at the western Negev from the Gaza Strip, Israeli sources reported on Friday. The source added that all ten shells landed inside the Gaza Strip border, causing no damage. The Israeli Army claimed that one of its units had spotted a group of Palestinian resistance fighters in the area of Kissufim, and opened fire at them. A large number of home-made shells fall inside the Gaza Strip borders when fired by Palestinian resistance fighters. When the shells do land in Israel, most land in empty areas in the Western Negev, rarely causing damage or injuries. Israel launched a wide-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip that lasted for 22 days last December and January, to allegedly stop the firing of home-made shells from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Operation "Cast Lead" was declared a success by Israeli leaders even though Palestinain fighters are still able to fire shells into Israel. more.. e-mail
Gaza militants fire 10 mortar shells, Qassam rocket at Negev
Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 2/21/2009
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Friday fired 10 mortar shells and a Qassam rocket at the western Negev, causing no casualties. Israel Defense Forces troops operating in the Kissufim area identified the explosions and opened fire in the direction of the launchers across the border. The strikes came amid an apparent stalemate in Gaza Strip truce negotiations, following Israel’s demand that a cease-fire be linked to the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Defense official Amos Gilad, who has been negotiating with Egyptian mediators over the truce, reportedly canceled his trip to Egypt on Friday, according to the Arabic daily Al-Hayat. Five Qassams exploded in open areas of the western Negev on Thursday, three in the evening and two in the morning. more.. e-mail
Egyptian smuggler killed as contraband fuel explodes
Agence France Presse - AFP, Daily Star 2/21/2009
AL-ARISH, Egypt: An Egyptian smuggler was killed and two others were injured Friday when contraband fuel destined to be smuggled into the besieged Gaza Strip burst into flames, a security official said. About 2,000 liters of fuel had been stored in a house in Sarsuriya, near Egypt’s border with the impoverished Palestinian territory, the official said. The fuel was to be smuggled through a tunnel linking the house to Gaza, the official said, adding that police detained a relative of the dead man for questioning. Food, medicines and basic goods are routinely smuggled into Gaza through tunnels from Egypt. Israel, which blockaded the enclave after Hamas won legislative elections in 2006 and tightened the siege after the group took power by force in 2007, has asked Egypt to end the traffic. Israel fought a devastating 22-day war against the Gaza Strip that ended on January 18, and claims border tunnels are also used to smuggle weapons. more.. e-mail
Gunmen attack Palestinian newspaper office for third time
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Gunmen opened fire on the offices of the Al-Hayat Al-Jadida newspaper in the West Bank town of Al-Bireh, outside of Ramallah, on Thursday in the third such attack in two months. No one was injured. The Palestinian Authority-controlled newspaper is one of three main daily papers in the Palestinian territories. According to the newspaper, Palestinian security forces arrived at the offices and said they are investigating the incident. The administration and staff of the newspaper urged the security forces to locate the perpetrators and guarantee the safety of the employees. In the two previous attacks, gunfire came from the front side of the building which faces the Israeli settlement Psagot. There is a large open area between the edge of Al-Bireh and the settlement. more.. e-mail
Al-Quds Brigades claim to have attacked a settler
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed to have opened fire on an Israeli car near the settlement of Ofra, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Thursday night. The Brigades said in a statement that a settler was injured in the attack. There has been no confirmation of this yet from the Israeli side. The group said the attack marked the anniversary of the assassination of Imad Mughniyya, the military leader of Hizbullah. Mughniyya was killed in a car bombing in Damascus in February 2008. Blamed by Hizbullah for the assassination, Israel has never confirmed its involvement in the incident. [end]
Halabaya: Jerusalem and its residents are under fierce attack from occupation
Palestinian Information Center 2/20/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabayya, deputy head of the Jerusalem Committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that the Aqsa Mosque and other holy places in Jerusalem are under a fierce attack by occupation. He said, in a press statement on Thursday, that "January this year witnessed many violations against the citizens of Jerusalem, their families, homes and land by the occupation institutions and its army and police. " He pointed out that those violations included, demolition of home, bulldozing lands, land confiscation as well as assaults and arrests against Jerusalem citizens causing many confrontations between those citizens and the occupation army. He added that his press statement coincided with the start of activities to celebrate Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture 2009, for which a national committee has been formed. more.. e-mail
Jihad men claim clashes with Israeli forces in Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/20/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, clashed with Israeli troops that attempted to enter southern Gaza, east of the town Al-Qararra, on Thursday night. The Brigades said in a statement received by Ma’an that they launched rocket-propelled grenades at Israeli forces in the area. [end]
Mortar barrage hits Negev; no injuries
Ilana Curiel, YNetNews 2/20/2009
About 10 mortar shells fired from Gaza hit open areas near western Negev communities shortly after 9:30 am; no injuries or damage reported. Earlier Friday Qassam rocket launched by Palestinian gunmen lands within Palestinian territory - A barrage of about 10 mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip landed in open fields in the Eshkol Regional Council on Friday. The shells were launched shortly after 9:30 am. No injuries or damage were reported in the attack. Military sources estimated that the mortar fire was part of a botched attempt by Palestinians to carry out an attack against the IDF. The mortar shells were fired at an army force operating near the Kissufim crossing. The force responded with fire. Earlier, a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza exploded within Palestinian territory, near the border fence. more.. e-mail
Israel: Thursday’s airstrikes targeted smuggling tunnels
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday “in response to the four rockets and mortar shells” fired at Israeli targets Wednesday night and Thursday morning, a spokesperson said. No one was injured in the strikes, which were first reported at 1pm. In a statement sent to Ma’an, an Israeli spokesperson said the “continuous firing of approximately 50 rockets and mortars” since 18 January precipitated the strikes, which reportedly struck six tunnels used for smuggling through the southern border with Egypt. Israel said large secondary explosions followed “some” of the strikes, “proving the presence of weapons or munitions” located in or near at least a few of the targets. Israel called on Hamas to stop homemade projectile fire from the Gaza Strip, but did not accuse the Islamic movement of having fired the recent rockets. more.. e-mail
Ministry of religious affairs deplores Israeli bombing of mosque in Khan Younis
Palestinian Information Center 2/19/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- The ministry of endowments and religious affairs strongly denounced the new Israeli military attack on the Abu Hamid Mosque in Khan Younis at dawn Wednesday, calling on the international community to curb the Israeli attacks on Islamic houses of worship. Dr. Abdullah Abu Jarbou’a, the assistant undersecretary of the ministry, said that it is not strange to see Israel, which commits daily war crimes against the Palestinian people and bomb mosques, recalling that Israel destroyed so far 46 mosques completely and 55 others partially. Dr. Jarbou’a called for forming an international committee to investigate Israeli assaults on houses of worship in Gaza and to prosecute the Israeli leaders responsible for these war crimes. In a new development, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, repelled Wednesday evening a special Israeli force that infiltrated into east of. . . more.. e-mail
Palestinian killed by Israeli car on Jerusalem-Jericho road
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – An 18-year-old Palestinian died on Thursday after he was struck by an Israeli car on a Jerusalem-Jericho road, near the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. According to the Israeli police website, an Israeli ambulance was sent to rescue the Palestinian. Medics administered first aid but were unable to save the teenager. His body was handed over to the Palestinian side. Israeli police arrested the driver and took him for questioning. Israel maintains a network of roads across the West Bank leading to settlements, which are illegal under international law. [end]
Israeli settlers steal a Palestinian’s car and set it on fire near Jenin
Ali Al Samoudi - Palestine News Network - PNN, International Middle East Media Center News 2/19/2009
A group of armed Israeli settlers stole a car owned by a Palestinian man and set it on fire near the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday evening, Palestinian security sources reported. The armed settlers installed a road block just outside Jenin, stopping a Palestinian man driving his taxi at gunpoint, before taking over the car. The man told Palestinian security that settlers took his car to a nearby farm land and then set fire to it. [end]
Israeli forces shoot Palestinian fighter on Gaza border - Fighting reported east of Gaza City
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli forces shot a Palestinian fighter who was reportedly planting an explosive device on the Israel-Gaza border on Thursday morning. The Palestinian, who was hurt near the Keren Shalom border crossing, was later taken to a hospital in Israel for treatment, according to the newspaper Haaretz. Meanwhile, witnesses reported that Israeli tanks near Kerem Shalom opened fire on houses in the area, however, no injuries were reported. The incident occurred shortly after Palestinians fired two homemade projectiles into the Eshkol region east of the Gaza Strip. The rockets caused neither casualties nor damage. Separately, Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, reported that they responded to an Israeli incursion in the east of the Az-Zaitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. Al-Qassam Brigades said in a press release that Israeli special forces entered Az-Zaitoun, clashing with Palestinian fighters for half an hour. more.. e-mail
Qassams land near Sderot, Netivot
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/19/2009
Rockets hits open areas near southern Israeli towns, no injuries or damage reported. Earlier the IAF attacked targets in Rafah -A Qassam rocket landed in an open area in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council shortly after 6:00 pm on Thursday evening, near the town of Sderot. No injuries were reported and no damage was caused. Some two hours later another rocket landed in an open area near Netivot. No injuries were reported. In recent days the IDF has been responding to the rocket and mortar fire emanating from Gaza by attacking smuggling tunnels in the southern part of the Strip. Earlier on Thursday the IAF struck targets near the city of Rafah. Palestinian sources reported that the attacks focused on the Philadelphi Route, bordering on Egypt. Earlier on Thursday the IAF struck targets near the city of Rafah. Palestinian sources reported that the attacks focused on the Philadelphi Route, bordering on Egypt. more.. e-mail
Hours after rejecting a swap-based truce, Israeli tanks move into Gaza
Rami Almeghari, International Middle East Media Center News 2/19/2009
Hours after the Israeli cabinet decided not to enter a truce deal with Gaza-based resistance factions, Israeli tanks rolled into eastern Gaza city and opened heavy random fire on Palestinian residents in southern Rafah city. The Al Qassam brigades, armed wing of the ruling Hamas party in Gaza, said in a statement emailed to media outlets, that its fighters clashed with Israeli tanks advancing into the eastern parts of Gaza city, with no causalities reported. Also on Thursday morning, Israeli tanks opened heavy and random fire on Palestinian residential areas in Rafah city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Witnesses said that Israeli tanks, stationed near the Kerem Shalom crossing, opened fire abruptly into the area; no injuries were reported. Israeli media sources reported earlier on Thursday that an Israeli army unit on the Gaza-Israel border line in southern Gaza,. . . more.. e-mail
3 Qassam rockets strike western Negev; no one hurt
Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Service and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/19/2009
Three Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip Thursday evening struck open areas in the western Negev, causing no damage or injuries. The first hit near Sderot and several hours later, two more rockets exploded near Netivot. Two Qassams were also fired into southern Israel Thursday morning. In response to the morning attack, Israel Air Force warplanes bombed six smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, the army said. There were no reports of casualties, but the attack did cause secondary blasts, according to the Israel Defense Forces, which indicated that explosives were hit in the airstrike. The strikes took place about 30 kilometers from where a group of U. S. lawmakers was visiting. Earlier Thursday, the IDF hit a Palestinian militant attempting to plant a bomb on the Israel-Gaza border, lightly wounding him. more.. e-mail
IAF strikes targets near Rafah
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 2/19/2009
Palestinian sources in Gaza say Israeli aircraft struck targets along Philadelphi route; earlier soldiers open fire at Palestinian trying to plant bomb along border fence; man lightly hurt, evacuated to Beersheba hospital; sources in Gaza say IDF operated in northern Strip overnight; rockets launched toward Negev, no injuries -Israelis aircraft on Thursday struck targets near Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said the attack focused on the Philadelphi route, where the Palestinians have resumed work on tunnels used to smuggle arms and goods from Egypt to Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties. During the early morning hours IDF soldiers operating near the Kerem Shalom crossing opened fire at a Palestinian terrorist trying to plant a bomb along the Gaza-Israel border fence. more.. e-mail
Israeli jet fighters bomb areas near Gaza-Egypt border
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/19/2009
Israeli jet fighters bombarded on Thursday midday areas along the Gaza-Egypt border, Palestinians sources reported. The Israeli Army stated that the attacks targeted underground tunnels at the border line, Palestinian sources reported no injures. The Israeli Army added that the attack is in response to homemade shells that were fired from Gaza at nearby Israeli areas. [end]
Crossings official injured by Israeli strike on southern Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – A spokesperson for the Gaza-Israel Crossings Authority was injured when Israeli shelling targeted the border at Rafah on Thursday. The spokesperson, Adel Zu’rub, is also a reporter for the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa Radio. Medical sources told Ma’an his wounds, caused by shrapnel to the foot, were moderate. [end]
Israel: Homemade projectile fired on Sha’r Hanegev
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli sources said that a projectile fired from Gaza landed in an open area in Sha’ar Hanegev in the western Negev on Thursday. No injuries were reported, nor did any Palestinian faction immediately claim responsibility for the projectile. [end]
Israeli warplanes launch more raids on southern Gaza
Palestinian Information Center 2/18/2009
RAFAH, (PIC)-- Israeli warplanes launched a series of air raids on the Rafah border strip and Khan Younis city in southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday in what became a semi daily military escalation since Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire in its war on Gaza. Security sources told PIC correspondent that Israeli F-16s fired at least one missile at the main police headquarters in Khan Younis city starting fire in the premises and destroying a mosque inside the security complex. The sources recalled that the same site was repeatedly targeted by the Israeli warplanes. Adel Zu’rub, the spokesman for the Palestinian crossings and borders authority, told the PIC that the Israeli warplanes launched four air raids on the border strip in Rafah at 01. 00 am Wednesday. He said that no casualties were reported but material damage was inflicted on residential quarters. more.. e-mail
Israeli troops seize seven Palestinians in Nablus
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli troops seized seven Palestinians from Nablus and the village of Asira Ash-Shamailya, north of the city, on Thursday. The Israeli military says that 10 Palestinians were detained in overnight raids across the West Bank. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that Israeli troops raided several areas in Nablus, including the Old City, detaining Mahmoud Taher Samaro, Na’el Khamis Awad and Ashraf Al-Qurdy, 22. In Asira Ash-Shamailya, local sources said that Israeli troops seized three residents after raiding their houses: Ala Awwad Ash-Sholi, 31, Ammar Jarar’a, 25, and Ubay Hamadneh, age unknown. Marwan Mahmoud Hassan Hamdah, 25, was detained from Al-Ain refugee camp, in the west of Nablus. Witnesses told Ma’an that Israeli troops kept Walid Khader Salameh, 20, in their custody for more than six hours at the Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus, on Wednesday night. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces raid houses, shops in village near Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli forces invaded the town of Yabud, near the West Bank city of Jenin overnight on Thursday, raiding houses and seizing agricultural materials. Witnesses told Ma’an that more than 30 Israeli military vehicles entered the town from the east at 1:30am. The soldiers raided the homes of three brothers, Atef, Adnan and Nafe’Zaid Al-Kilani. The brothers and their families were forced to evacuate their houses, but no one was arrested. The soldiers also raided a store belonging to Zein Abu Baker and an agricultural supply store owned by Mustafa Al-Khatib. Late on Wednesday night Israeli troops also deployed by helicopter near the Arab American University of Jenin. more.. e-mail
Israeli military kidnaps seven civilians from Nablus and nearby village
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/19/2009
Seven Palestinian civilians have been kidnapped by the Israeli military during pre-dawn invasion on Thursday, targeting the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and nearby village of Assira al-Shamaliyia. Witnesses told Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, that Israeli troops invaded the old Nablus city and and nearby al-Ein refugee camp,and searched homes before kidnapping three men. Meanwhile, another Israeli force stormed Assira al-Shamaliyia village, searched a number of homes, kidnapped four civilians and took them to unknown locations, local sources reported. [end]
Israeli troops backed by helicopters raid Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/19/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli troops deployed by helicopter landed near the American Arab University near the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday night. Palestinian security forces reported that Israeli troops spread across the hills and other areas between the village of Zababida and the university as Israeli aircraft flew overhead. No arrests or injuries were reported. The Israeli military has increased its operations in the Jenin area in recent weeks, deploying in the villages of Qabatiya, Masliya, and elsewhere. [end]
Settlers run over Palestinian child, attack citizen and burn his car
Palestinian Information Center 2/19/2009
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- An Israeli settler on Wednesday ran over the 8-year-old Palestinian child Islam Al-Ja’bari in Al-Khalil city and sped away while settlers south of Jenin city attacked a Palestinian man in his fifties and burnt his car. Local sources in Al-Khalil said that an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent carried the boy to Al-Khalil government hospital where his condition was described as "moderate". Many such hit-and-run incidents have been recorded by Israeli settlers without being held accountable by the Israeli occupation authority. Other settlers from the evacuated settlement of Homesh south of Jenin attacked 58-year-old Palestinian citizen Ibrahim Hamur and burnt his taxicab. Local sources and witnesses reported that Hamur had parked his car near the entrance to that settlement to pray when more than ten settlers assaulted him. more.. e-mail
Palestinian, settlers squabble over Homesh incident
Ali Waked, YNetNews 2/19/2009
Palestinian cab driver complained settlers ’tried to pull me into my car to burn me in it,’ then said his car was torched while the soldiers he alerted did nothing. Settlers claim however that the man and an accomplice ’tried to run over three Jews’ - A Palestinian taxi driver filed a complaint with the police saying that settlers returning from the evacuated settlement of Homesh in the northern West Bank tried to burn him in his car. The "Homesh First" headquarters outright denied the claims, saying the driver had attempted to run over several Jewish men. Police confirmed they have opened an investigation into the claims. Ibrahim Hamamra, a 51-year-old resident of Ja’aba, a village near Jenin, told Ynet on Thursday that he was attacked after exiting his car. "A group of 12 or 15 settlers attacked me. . . " more.. e-mail
Settlers burn car in Jenin
PNN, Palestine News Network 2/19/2009
Jenin - A group of settlers torched a vehicle in southern Jenin last night. The northern West Bank city is a target of settlers who are increasing in numbers. The Palestinian National Security Forces office in Jenin report that settlers erected a checkpoint in addition to the dozens in the area imposed by the Israeli army. The scene was set late Wednesday afternoon in the Jenin town of Silt Al Dahar. A group of armed Israelis held a driver from Jaba Village at gunpoint before stealing his vehicle. The National Security Forces said that the settlers set the car on fire before dumping it in a valley. The settlers were from the nearby settlement of Homesh built on confiscated West Bank land. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 021909
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/19/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 3 m 00s || 2. 75 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Thursday, February 19th, 2009. Israeli jet fighters bombard Gaza, while troops injured a Palestinian man in the West Bank, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Hours after the Israeli cabinet declined to enter a truce with Gaza-based resistance factions; Israeli tanks rolled into eastern Gaza city and opened heavy random fire on Palestinian residents in southern Rafah city. The Al Qassam brigades, armed wings of the ruling Hamas party in Gaza, said in a statement emailed to media outlets, that the Al Qassam fighters defended against Israeli tank advancement into the eastern parts of Gaza city. No causalities were reported. more.. e-mail
The Israeli military kidnaps 26 Palestinian civilians from the West Bank
Ghassan Banoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/17/2009
The Israeli military kidnapped 26 Palestinian civilians during pre dawn and morning invasions targeting several West Bank cities and towns on Tuesday, Palestinian sources reported. The sources said that the invasions took place in Tulkarem, Jenin, Qalqilia, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron cities. Witnesses said that Israeli troops invaded Tulkarem city and nearby a village, and kidnapped nine civilians after searching a number of homes. Also, in the northern part of the West Bank, Israeli troops invaded the city of Qalqilia, searched homes and kidnapped seven civilians. In the southern part of the West Bank, an Israeli force invaded the villages of Hussan and Beit Omer, near Bethlehem city and kidnapped seven civilians. Moreover, three civilians were kidnapped during home searches in Hebron city and nearby villages, local sources reported. more.. e-mail
Eastern Bethlehem village subjected to severe harassment
Najib Farrag, Palestine News Network 2/17/2009
PNN exclusive -- The village of Rashaida is under a tight military cordon that has the eastern Bethlehem community at its breaking point. President of the Local Council, Mayor Fawaz Rasheideh, says the harassment of citizens and restriction of movement is intensifying. "Military roadblocks are preventing access while armyincursions are taking place at least once daily," he told PNN. Raids are as frequent during daylight hours as at night, describes Rasheideh, with soldiers surrounding the village and isolating it from its environs. "Dozens of soldiers stormed the village from all sides and began breaking into the homes. They treated the citizens poorly and engaged in several tactics of intimidation, including against women and children, from both the mouths of the soldiers themselves and from their vehicles. more.. e-mail
Israel launches covert war against Iran
Philip Sherwell, Telegraph 2/16/2009
Israel has launched a covert war against Iran as an alternative to direct military strikes against Tehran’s nuclear programme, US intelligence sources have revealed. It is using hitmen, sabotage, front companies and double agents to disrupt the regime’s illicit weapons project, the experts say. The most dramatic element of the "decapitation" programme is the planned assassination of top figures involved in Iran’s atomic operations. Despite fears in Israel and the US that Iran is approaching the point of no return in its ability to build atom bomb, Israeli officials are aware of the change in mood in Washington since President Barack Obama took office. They privately acknowledge the new US administration is unlikely to sanction an air attack on Iran’s nuclear installations and Mr Obama’s offer to extend a hand of peace to Tehran puts any direct military action beyond reach for now. more.. e-mail
Iranian bioweapon researcher dies suspiciously
PressTV 2/15/2009
A US-based Iranian doctor working to discover an antitoxin therapy for biological weapons has purportedly died a "suspicious death." One of the leading bioweapon researchers and a regular keynote speaker at international conferences, Dr. Nasser Talebzadeh Ordoubadi died on Saturday in what his doctors described as a "suspicious death". Media reports have linked Dr. Talebzadeh Ordoubadi’s mysterious death to his notable accomplishments in discovering an antitoxin treatment for bioweapons. The use of biological and chemical weapons -- which is considered illegal under The Hague convention on rules of warfare -- is feared by many experts more than the use of nuclear weapons. Biological weapons can kill, incapacitate, or seriously impede an individual as well as entire cities or places where they are used. more.. e-mail
Targeting the leftists in western Bethlehem
Najib Farrag, Palestine News Network 2/17/2009
PNN exclusive - Israeli forces mounted a campaign of widespread raids and arrests in the southwestern Bethlehem town of Husan during the early morning hours of Tuesday. A massive military force pushed into the town ripping residents from sleep. Twelve vehicles closed the entrance to the village. Military roadblocks were imposed throughout the streets. Under curfew the town was held hostage as Israeli soldiers broke into several homes, forcing residents outside at gunpoint. Families were kept in the rain and bitter cold for more than three hours. Home owners described intensely provocative inspections. After four hours the soldiers arrested about a dozen young men who were rushed with eyes blindfolded and hands tied into the back of jeeps. Soldiers pushed the young men and beat several among them. more.. e-mail
Israelis seize eight Islamic Jihad members in northern West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 2/17/2009
Tulkarem – Ma’an – Israeli forces stormed the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on Tuesday morning, detaining eight Islamic Jihad members at dawn, among them a senior member. In addition to Tulkarem proper, soldiers also entered villages around the city and the main refugee camps in the area, where they searched for other members to arrest, according to Palestinian security sources. Soldiers stormed the Tulkarem-area villages of Anabta, Seida, Illar, Qaffin and Deir Al-Ghusun in the north, as well as Nur Shams Refugee Camp and Ramin in the east and Kafr Abbush in the south. Forty-five-year-old Sheikh Qassem Tawfiq Khader, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad, was seized in Deir Al-Ghusun. Ihab Damiri was taken from the city of Tulkarm, 25-year-old Mohammad Jeitawi from Nur Shams and 24-year-old Aziz Tu’mah from Qaffin. more.. e-mail
IOF warplanes shell Rafah border strip
Palestinian Information Center 2/17/2009
RAFAH, (PIC)-- Israeli warplanes on Monday night renewed shelling of the Rafah border area to the southernmost tip of the Gaza Strip after shelling it in the morning, local sources reported. They said that Israeli F-16 warplanes launched two separate air raids on the border strip near the Rafah border gate firing two rockets. The shelling caused powerful blasts but no casualties were reported, the sources said, adding that the shelling apparently targeted tunnels used to channel goods to the Strip in light of the closure of all Gaza crossings. Meanwhile, the PA health ministry in Gaza said that it ran out of units of negative blood components, and appealed to citizens having negative blood components to donate to the nearest hospital to their homes. In the West Bank, Israeli occupation forces rounded up 60 Palestinians in various towns and villages over the past 24 hours. more.. e-mail
Projectile fired from Gaza into Negev
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/17/2009
IDF identifies launch but sappers yet to determine whether it was mortar shell or Qassam rocket; local council head says Hamas will never permit calm -Palestinians fired a projectile towards the Karni crossing area on Tuesday evening. The IDF identified a launch from Gazan territory, but has yet to canvass the region due to the late hour and cannot yet say whether it was a Qassam rocket or mortar shell. Sappers are expected to head out in the morning to search. No injuries or damage have been reported. The Shaar HaNegev Regional Council, the target of the projectile in question, has been closely monitoring cabinet debates on a materializing ceasefire in Gaza. Council Chairman Alon Shuster said the government would have some tough decisions to make. " In recent years there have been periods of calm that have lasted for months on end, but our assumption. . . more.. e-mail
Confiscations and settlement expansion in Bethlehem
Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Stop The Wall 2/17/2009
Land confiscations and settlement expansion are continuing in the Bethlehem district. In Nahalin, Occupation forces have confiscated another 20 dunums from the village. Also, it has been announced that 1,700 dunums have been declared state land to facilitate the expansion of the Efrat settlement. On 28 January 2009, around 20 dunums of land was confiscated from the village of Nahalin and classified as “state land. ” The targeted area is located in the north part of the village, to the east of the settler road that also cuts through the villages of Husan and al-Khader. The lost land is agricultural and used to grow olives, grapes and figs as well as grain and barely. It belongs to four residents of the village and their families, who use the crops to produce flour, oil, and food for livestock. Ali Taha, a member of the village council, stated that Occupation forces are continually grabbing more territory from the village and declaring it state land. more.. e-mail
The closure of Al Ram
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 2/17/2009
PNN exclusive -- The occupying Israeli administration closed the only remaining passage of Dahiyat Barid between the Jerusalem suburb of Al Ram and the city. The northern town was a part of the city until the Wall was imposed down the center of main street effectively prohibiting the movement of residents. There was one passage left and now that is closed. The remaining passage, which was the area of Dahiyat Barid, was closed on Monday after being declared a "closed military zone" at the beginning of the month. Now that the Wall surrounds Al Ram and that one gate is closed, any possible travel must be conducted through the Ramallah checkpoint of Qalandiya. The closure increased congestion in northern Jerusalem and Ramallah today after the Israelis declared passage between Al Ram and the rest of the city a"closed military zone" two weeks ago. -- See also: Israel seizes West Bank land more.. e-mail
Urgent appeal to save Jerusalem and Aqsa Mosque from coming Israeli attacks
Palestinian Information Center 2/17/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage issued an urgent appeal to the Palestinian people and the Islamic Nation to save occupied Jerusalem before it is entirely judaized and the Aqsa Mosque before it is destroyed, warning that there will be more dangerous Zionist attacks on the holy city and Mosque during this year. In a new report, the foundation underlined that during 2008, Israel escalated its policy of fait accompli in Jerusalem and raced against time to carry out different judaization schemes against Islamic holy places, antiquities, history and civilization other than Palestinian inhabitants of the city. The report outlined that the Zionist break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque escalated significantly in the second half of 2008, where groups composed of hundreds of men, women and children in addition to Israeli politicians under heavy police guard desecrated the Mosque dozens of times. more.. e-mail
Palestinian Today 021709
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/17/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 3 m 00s || 2. 75 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. For the second day in a row the Israeli army kidnaps scores of Palestinian in the West Bank and doctors call for people to donate blood in Gaza, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast The Israeli military kidnapped 26 Palestinian civilians during pre-dawn and morning invasions targeting several West Bank cities and towns on Tuesday, Palestinian sources reported. The sources said that the invasions took place in Tulkarem, Jenin, Qalqilia, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron cities. Witnesses said that Israeli troops invaded Tulkarem city and a nearby village, then kidnapped nine civilians after searching a number of homes there. more.. e-mail
Israeli shelling kills Palestinian in Gaza
Middle East Online 2/16/2009
GAZA - A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli shelling in the north of the Gaza Strip on Monday, medics said. The Israeli army denied opening fire, with a spokesman saying "we have no knowledge of any firing by the Israeli army but we are looking into it. " Rajab Sobeh was killed and five others were wounded in the shelling, according to Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services. This latest rocket attack came despite a ceasefire declared January 18 after the three-week Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip that killed 1,330 Palestinians, mainly civilians. Egypt has been mediating between the two sides to try to turn the ceasefires into a lasting truce. Two Palestinian rockets were fired into southern Israel from the northern Gaza Strip early Monday, but exploded without causing any casualties, an Israeli army spokesman said. more.. e-mail
Israel seizes West Bank land
Al Jazeera 2/16/2009
Israel has taken control of a large area near a prominent settlement in the Palestinian West Bank, paving the way for a possible construction of 2,500 settlement homes, officials have said. Oded Revivi, the mayor of Efrat, said on Monday that the Israeli military has designated 425 acres near the settlement of about 1,600 families south of Jerusalem, as so-called state land two weeks ago. Revivi said Efrat plans to build 2,500 homes on that land, but government approval would still be needed before construction begins, a process that could take years. Eventually, Efrat is to grow to a city of 30,000 people, he said. The settlement is situated in one of three settlement blocs Israel expects to hold on to in any final peace deal with the Palestinians. Revivi said nine appeals, eight of which were rejected and one was upheld, had been filed by Palestinian landowners. -- See also: New Settlement Approved East of the Apartheid Wall more.. e-mail
Israeli soldiers continue West Bank sweep, arresting at least 50 Palestinians
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Ramallah – Ma’an – Israeli forces arrested nearly 50 Palestinians from across the West Bank Monday, at least 30 from the Ramallah area. All were taken to undisclosed locations, after troops broke into several homes. Soldiers also installed a checkpoint at the entrance of Ni’lin village, west of the West Bank city of Ramallah. In the early morning “Israeli military jeeps invaded the city from every direction, broke into several homes—ransacking them—while intensely firing live ammunition and percussion grenades,” Palestinian security sources said. Seven of the estimated twenty Palestinians arrested in that raid were identified as:Mohammad Issa Qandah / Adham Mussa Qandah / Issam Rashad Qadah / Tareq Ziad As-Sus / Ibrahim A’qel As-Sus / Ahmad Subhi / Ahmad Suheib / The same sources added that Israeli forces invaded the Al-Jalazun Refugee Camp north of Ramallah and arrested eight residents there. more.. e-mail
Israel shuts down Palestinian city after rock thrown at soldier
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Tulkarem – Ma’an – Israeli forces closed a military checkpoint east of the West Bank city of Tulkarem on Monday after a soldier was struck in the head by a stone. Residents said soldiers closed the Enav checkpoint into and out of Tulkarem on Monday afternoon, preventing residents and their vehicles from passing in either direction. Witnesses told Ma’an that residents began traveling over the nearby Bazarya-Rameen Road to reach the West Bank city after being unable to pass through the checkpoint. According to an Israeli source, the injured soldier was transferred to Me’er Hospital in Kfar Saba. His injuries were described as light, but one source reported that the soldier was robbed, as well. more.. e-mail
Israel bombs Gaza targets
Al Jazeera 2/16/2009
Israeli aricraft have bombed targets on Gaza’s border with Egypt, after Palestinian fighters fired rockets into southern Israel, witnesses say. One Palestinian man was also reported to have been killed and five others injured in the north of the Gaza Strip on Monday, but it was unclear as to whether he had been killed in an Israeli attack. Palestinian medics and witnesses said that Rajab Sobeh was killed by an Israeli shell. But an Israeli spokesman said in relation to the death: "We have no knowledge of any firing by the Israeli army but we are looking into it. "Later Palestinian sources told Al Jazeera that the man had died in a "work accident". The attacks on the Gaza border followed the firing of two rockets from the northern Gaza Strip into southern Israel early on Monday by Palestinian fighters. more.. e-mail
Dichter: Israel must act against Gaza arms smuggling
Barak Ravid, Ha’aretz 2/16/2009
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter urged the government to take action against weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip with the same military means it uses against rocket fire. "Egyptian action is too slow, and the government must set an appropriate policy for the Israel Defense Forces," he told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Dichter said arms smuggling remains Israel’s "Achilles Heel" in the coastal strip. "We must not wait until rockets are fired on Yavneh," he said. The town in central Israel was struck by rockets during the war with Gaza last month. Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin said Sunday that there have been several instances of arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza since the end of the war, as Hamas tries to rehabilitate the smuggling tunnels bombed by Israel. more.. e-mail
Mysterious blast in northern Gaza: One dead, four injured
Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/16/2009
A mysterious blast ripped through the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahya, leaving one dead and four others injured Monday at dawn, according to Palestinain medical sources. Sources at the Kamal Edwan hospital confirmed that Rajab Sobeh, age 25, was killed and four others were injured in the blast, two critically. The motivation behind the blast is unclear. Israeli miltary sources claimed that two homemade shells were fired at Israeli areas, causing no damage. Meanwhile, Palestinian medics announced that Ali Alqedra, a Palestinian resident from Khan Younis, died of wounds he sustained last Friday, after Israeli warplanes targeted the city. The Popular Resistance Committees mourned the death as if it were one of its fighters. Alqedra was hit while driving his motorcycle. more.. e-mail
IDF bombs smuggling tunnels in Gaza after 2 Qassams hit Negev
Haaretz Service and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/16/2009
IAF jets bombed the Philadelphi route, an area of smuggling tunnels near Gaza’s border with Egypt, for a second time on Monday in response to Qassam rocket fire that hit the Negev earlier in the day. Israel’s military said the strikes targeted tunnels used to smuggle weapons in from Egypt and was retaliation for the rocket attacks. Palestinian rockets hit Israel Monday morning, as talks dragged on over a long-term truce that would bring quiet to Israel’s south and the coastal territory. Two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel Monday, one exploding in an open area in the Sha’ar Hanegev region and the other hitting inside a kibbutz in the Sdot Negev region. No injuries were reported in either incident, but some property sustained damage. more.. e-mail
The Israeli Army attacks Rafah Egypt borders
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/16/2009
On Monday, Israeli jet fighter raided areas at southern Gazan city of Rafah borders with Egypt. Palestinian sources said that the attack targeted open areas, and left no damage or injuries. The Israeli military said that the attack targeted underground tunnels claimed by Israel to be used for smuggling weapons inside of Gaza, adding that it was in response to two homemade shells fired from Gaza into nearby Israeli areas. The Palestinian resistance groups announced on Monday morning that it fired two homemade shells at the Negev region. Israeli sources said that both shells landed in open areas, causing no damage or injuries. [end]
Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah crossing; no injuries reported
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli warplanes shelled tunnels around the Rafah crossings into Egypt in southern Gaza on Monday morning, residents said. The airstrikes targeted tunnels in the Al-Jaradat area east of Rafah. No injuries were reported in strikes between Rafah and the Karem Shalom crossing, an area apparently targeted for the first time on Monday. Jets carried out strikes on alleged smuggling tunnels in Rafah on Friday, as well, injuring a number of Palestinians. One of those injured Palestinians died from his wounds on Monday. [end]
Settlement gets green light for massive expansion
Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 2/16/2009
Some 1,700 dunams of land [425 acres] in the northern part of Efrat were declared state land last week, paving the way for the West Bank settlement to start the process of seeking government approval to build there. The Civil Administration issued the declaration after rejecting eight appeals by Palestinians against the move. A ninth appeal was accepted, and the land covered by this appeal was consequently removed from Efrat’s jurisdiction. However, construction is still a long way off. First, the Civil Administration must formally allocate the land to the Housing Ministry, which, under new rules adopted by outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert’s government, cannot be done without approval from both the prime minister and defense minister. Then the Housing Ministry must give Efrat’s local council a permit to start the usually long planning process, which involves securing permits from various agencies. more.. e-mail
Israeli confiscates Palestinian-owned farmlands for expanding settlements near Bethlehem
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/16/2009
The Israeli Army decided to confiscates 1,700 dunumsof land owned by Palestinians farmers for the expansion of a settlement near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, Israeli sources reported on Monday. One acre is equal to four dunums. According to sources, farmers have filed nine appeals to the Israeli court throughout the past several months; the court dismissed the first eight, but accepted the most recent, and decided to allow the settlers to take over the land to expand the settlement of Efrat. The Efrat settlement council told the Israeli online daily Haaretz, that the land will be used to construct 2,500 new homes for settlers. Efrat is the home of 9,000 Israeli settlers, and is part of the Kifar Atzion settlement block, which is the largest illegal settlement bloc in the southern West Bank. The settlement council of Efrat stated that they will try to get the. . . more.. e-mail
Israeli soldiers sweep West Bank, arresting dozens of Palestinians
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers carried out wide sweeps of arrests overnight Monday, taking 37 Palestinians from across the West Bank. Israeli sources called all of the men “wanted” and transferred them to interrogation centers. Two of the men were from the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Eyewitnesses said soldiers invaded the city, broke into several homes and took 23-year-old Thafer As’ad Ash-Shahruri from Al-Basha Streets and 28-year-old Abed-Al-Hai Rebhi A’tta Hamad from theAl-Tayah area of the city. Also on Monday morning, Israeli soldiers seized a young man from the West Bank city of Jenin, transporting him to an undisclosed location. Palestinian Authority security sources told Ma’an that “Israeli military jeeps invaded the city from every direction, broke into several homes—ransacking them—while intensely firing live ammunition and percussion grenades. more.. e-mail
The Israeli military kidnaps 30 Palestinians from areas in the Ramallah district
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/16/2009
At least 30 Palestinian civilians were kidnapped by Israeli troops during morning invasions, targeting towns and villages near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday, Palestinian sources reported. Thirteen of those kidnapped were taken from al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah city. Witnesses reported that Israeli troops invaded the camp, searched homes and took 13 men away. Meanwhile, nine civilians, among them two brothers, were kidnapped during similar home invasions the Israeli military carried out in al-Jalazon refugee camp, also located in Ramallah city. Local sources said there are 130 civilians from al-Jalazon refugee camp that are still locked up in Israeli detention. Seven civilians were kidnapped during pre-dawn house to house searches the Israeli military carried out in the village of Abu Shikhadem, to the north of Ramallah city, local sources reported. more.. e-mail
Israeli Army kidnaps four civilians from the northern part of the West Bank
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/16/2009
The Israeli military kidnapped four Palestinian civilians during pre-dawn invasions, targeting the northern part of the West Bank on Monday. Palestinian sources said that Israeli troops invaded the city of Jenin and searched a number of homes before taking two men to unknown locations. Meanwhile in Nablus, Israeli troops searched two homes during a dawn invasion, kidnapped two young men and took them to a nearby military camp, local sources reported. 30 civilians were kidnapped on Monday during an Israeli attack, targeting the city of Ramallah and nearby villages. The Israeli military said that all those kidnapped were on the army’s "Wanted List". [end]
Soldiers invade Jenin, ransack homes, detain young man
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers seized a young man from the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday morning, transporting him to an undisclosed location. Palestinian Authority security sources told Ma’an that “Israeli military jeeps invaded the city from every directions, broke into several homes—ransacking them—while intensely firing live ammunition and percussion grenades. ”The same sources added that the young Palestinian man was identified as 24-year-old Shadi Jamil Zeidan. [end]
Israeli police storm Jerusalem-area village, search garages
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli police and border guards stormed garages in Al-Eizariya, east of Jerusalem, on Monday and searched a number of cars. Eyewitnesses reported that the police searched garages there and confiscated several cars. [end]
Palestinian detained from Mas-ha village west of Salfit by Israeli forces
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Salfit - Ma’an - Israeli forces stormed the village of Mas-ha Monday evening and detained an An-Najah university student. Forces destroyed several rooms in the home then detained Na’el Abdel-Halim Subhi Amer. [end]
Israeli jets strike smuggling tunnels on Gaza border
Daily Star 2/17/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israeli aircraft struck smuggling tunnels on Gaza’s border with Egypt Monday, after two rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory, witnesses said. Palestinians use the tunnels to bring in medicine, food and basic goods in light of the Israeli siege imposed on the impoverished enclave since Hamas won parliamentary polls in 2006. After the Islamists took power in Gaza by force in 2007, Israel further tightened its hold. Israel claims armed groups use the tunnels around the border town of Rafah to smuggle weapons into the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave. Just hours before the air strike, two rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza but exploded without causing any casualties, an Israeli Army spokesman said. One of the short-range rockets hit an empty field while the other fell on a farm causing slight damage. more.. e-mail
2 rockets hit western Negev; IDF strikes in Gaza
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/16/2009
One Qassam lands in kibbutz in Sdot Negev Regional Council, another hits an open area in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries reported, but environmental damage caused. In response, Air Force jets attack weapons smuggling tunnels on Philadelphi route - While the talksfor truce between Israeland Hamasand for release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalitgo on in Cairo, western Negev communities continue to be hit by rockets: Two Qassams were fired at the western Negev on Monday morning. One landed in a kibbutz in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, and the other hit an open area in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries, but environmental damage was caused. The kibbutz residents woke up to the sounds of the Color Red rocket alert system and to a loud explosion. In response to the rockets, the Israel Air Force attacked a weapons smuggling tunnel on the Philadelphi route in the southern Gaza Strip in the early afternoon hours. more.. e-mail
Two homemade projectiles strike western Negev
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – Two homemade projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Monday morning, according to Israeli news reports. Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported two Qassam rockets struck the western Negev, one landing in a Sdot-Negev Regional Council kibbutz and another in an open area at Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported from either strike. On Friday at dawn, the Hizbullah Brigades in Palestine claimed responsibility for attacking Sderot and the western Negev with two projectiles, according to a statement. The two projectiles were launched toward Sderot and the western Negev at around 5:30am on Friday, the group said, insisting that more attacks on Israeli forces were still to come. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the attacks, according to Israeli news reports. more.. e-mail
IOF tank shell kills Palestinian, wound five others
Palestinian Information Center 2/16/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- A Palestinian citizen was killed on Monday and five others wounded in an Israeli occupation forces’ bombardment of civilian neighborhoods north of Gaza Strip. Medical sources said that medical teams evacuated the body of Rajab Subuh along with five casualties after an IOF tank fired at a civilian home in Attatra, north of the Strip. In Rafah, IOF warplanes at noon Monday fired a number of missiles at the Gaza Strip border areas with Egypt but no casualties were reported, security sources said. They told the PIC reporter that the IOF warplanes launched two air raids on the Rafah border area east of Rafah border crossing damaging a number of houses. Meanwhile, medical sources said that Ali Al-Qudra, 28, died of critical wounds sustained during an IOF air raid on Abassan east of Khan Younis district, south of the Gaza Strip three days ago. more.. e-mail
Explosion kills one Palestinian, injures four others in Beit Lahiya
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – A Palestinian was killed on Monday morning and four others were injured in a mysterious explosion in the northern Gaza Strip, medical sources reported. One Palestinian, identified as Rajab Usama Subuh, 25, was killed in the blast, while two of four others injured in Beit Lahiya were in critical condition just before noon on Monday. Meanwhile, another Palestinian died from injuries sustained in an Israeli attack on Friday in Khan Younis, medics told Ma’an. On Sunday, a Palestinian woman was killed by a stray bullet in the Al-Mughraqa area of Gaza, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reported. Buthaina Abu Rabee, 46, was shot in the chest while armed Palestinian fighters were holding a training session at the abandoned Israeli settlement Nitzarim, near Abu Rabee’s house, according to her son, Hamada. more.. e-mail
New IDF armored vehicle gets trial by fire in Gaza
Anshel Pfeffer, Ha’aretz 2/16/2009
The army’s next-generation armored personnel carrier received its baptism by fire during Operation Cast Lead last month. The newest model Namer (Tiger), which is produced locally, joined the Israel Defense Forces’ ranks in recent months. Several dozen are being used in infantry training. Eventually, the IDF is hoping to replace all of its older APCs with the new model. The first infantry brigade to receive the new APC was Golani, which used three such vehicles in a brigade exercise two months ago. Golani soldiers used their veteran Achzarit APCs during most of the offensive in the Gaza Strip, but during the final days of the operation, they also brought some of the new vehicles into battle to test their capabilities. The new APC served as a forward command position for the Golani commander. more.. e-mail
Israeli truck driver says vehicle stolen in West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – An Israeli truck driver claimed that he was attacked and looted near the village of Ethna near the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday. Israeli sources said that “the driver was transferred by an Israeli ambulance while the Israeli police forces found his truck inside Ethan but failed to arrest anyone. ”The driver, who is 36 years old, filed a complaint claiming that four persons disguised as policemen stopped his vehicle, attacked him and stole his truck. Palestinian security officials told Ma’an that soldiers invaded the village in an attempt to recover the stolen vehicle, but did not confirm that a vehicle had actually been stolen. [end]
Palestine Today 021609
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/16/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 03 m 0s || 2. 75 MB || Palestine Today 021609 Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Monday, February 16th, 2009. Two Palestinians reported killed in Gaza, while the Israeli military kidnaps 34 civilians from the West Bank, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast A mysterious blast ripped through the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahya, leaving one dead and four others injured Monday at dawn, according to Palestinian medical sources. Sources at the Kamal Edwan Hospital confirmed that Rajab Sobeh, age 25, was killed and four others injured in the blast, two critically. The motivation behind the blast is unclear. Meanwhile, Palestinian medics announced that Ali Alqedra, a Palestinian resident from Khan Younis, died of wounds. . . more.. e-mail
Suspected Israeli hit-and-run injures two young girls near Huwwara
Ma’an News Agency 2/16/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – A seven and ten year old were hit by what bystanders believe was an Israeli car speeding past Huwara village south of Nablus Monday. Palestinian medical sources reported said the two young girls were Shatha Mahmoud Khamous and her younger sister Lama Khamous, who were brought to hospital with moderate injuries. Locals said Palestinian Red Crescent crews rushed to the scene took the girls to the Anglican Hospital in Nablus for treatment. [end]
300 Israeli settlers under military guard invade Artas village in Bethlehem
Palestinian Information Center 2/14/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- About 300 Israeli settlers escorted by IOF troops and border guards invaded Friday several areas in the Artas village, south of Bethlehem, and set up several tents on these areas which are threatened with annexation. This Israeli escalation came after Israeli bulldozers established 800-meter road linking the area of Khalat Al-Nahl in the village with the Efrat settlement built on the territory of several villages in the area including Artas and Khadr. Villagers from Artas told the PIC that the Israeli bulldozers are working in this area around the clock even at night in order to finish quickly this settlement scheme. In another context, Arab Knesset member Ibrahim Sarsour deplored the blasphemous assault on the Bahar mosque in the Tabaria city at dawn Saturday through spraying satanic graffiti on the mosque’s wall in addition to red and black colors. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces open fire on demonstrators in village south of Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/14/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli forces raided the West Bank village of Misliya, south of Jenin, on Saturday afternoon. Young Palestinian men threw stones at the invading soldiers, who responded with rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas, and sonic bombs. No injuries were reported. According to Palestinian security sources, Israeli forces raided the house of Yousef Abu Na’im on the pretext that young men who threw stones were hiding in the building. Na’im was questioned but not arrested. The Israeli forces later withdrew. [end]
IDF attacks ’weapons factories’ in Jabalia
Ynet, YNetNews 2/14/2009
Military says attack on Hamas-affiliated sites a response to Friday morning rocket fire on Israel - IDF forces attacked two weapons production factories affiliated with Hamas in the Jabalia refugee camp in the West Bank, in a late Friday night operation. Near midnight, Israel Air Force planes hit the two sites. According to the IDF, the aerial strike was a continuation of the military bombardment of tunnels in Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor, which came in response to Friday morning’s rocket attack on Israeli towns. The IDF said Hamas is fully responsible for maintaining the ceasefire and that the military would continue responding to breaches of such. [end]
Israeli Air Force and Navy shell Gaza
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/14/2009
The Israeli Air Force and the Israeli Navy late on Friday at night bombarded three areas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza city and Rafah, causing several injuries and excessive property damage. Local sources reported that four residents were wounded, and were moved to Kamal Adwan hospital, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, after the Israeli Air Force fired at least one missile at a lumberyard near the Jabalia market. The lumberyard, which belongs to the Al Sharafy family, was destroyed due to the shelling. Furthermore, Israeli Navy gunships fired automatic rounds at open areas in the northern and western parts of Gaza city; no injuries were reported. The Israeli Air Force also carried out a series of strikes at areas along the border in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, several injuries were reported The Israeli Army said that the shelling targeted the "tunnels area". more.. e-mail
Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for Gaza roadside bomb
Ma’an News Agency 2/14/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility for setting off a roadside bomb near an Israeli patrol on the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday evening. The Israeli military has confirmed that an explosive device was detonated near a patrolling jeep. No one was injured. Israeli soldiers are reported to be searching the area. Israeli military vehicles routinely patrol a buffer zone along the border inside the Gaza Strip. [end]
Hamas: Israeli escalation aims to terrorize Palestinians, blackmail resistance
Palestinian Information Center 2/14/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- Hamas on Saturday held the Israeli occupation authority fully responsible for any consequences of the "serious escalation" in attacks on the Gaza Strip. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, urged all parties that called for calm to pressure the IOA to stop its aggression and procrastination. He added in a press release that the recent IOA escalation, which coincides with the approaching conclusion of a new calm agreement, aims to terrorize the Palestinian people and to blackmail the Palestinian resistance and Hamas to accept Israeli conditions. Barhoum said that such intransigence reflects the IOA intention to put more hurdles before calm efforts, and asked the concerned parties to intervene to end such practice. more.. e-mail
Roadside bomb, Grad rocket disrupt calm in south
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 2/15/2009
Explosive device set off against IDF troops patrolling fence along Gaza border after Grad lands in Hevel Yave region without setting off alarm - The Homefront Command on Saturday established a committee to investigate an apparent malfunction in the rocket alert system in Hevel Yavne Regional Council, after a Grad rocket exploded near a town in the area. In another incident Saturday, an explosive device planted near the security fence along the Gaza border was detonated just as an IDF patrol vehicle was passing on Saturday afternoon. No injuries were reported and no damage was caused. The Grad rocket reportedly struck the area of a town in Hevel Yavne around 8:00 pm Friday, and its remains were discovered and dismantled in an agricultural field by police sappers on Saturday morning. It constitutes the farthest-reaching rocket fired at Israel since the end of the IDF offensive in Gaza. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces seize three Palestinians in Nablus, including a woman
Ma’an News Agency 2/14/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli forces seized three Palestinians from Nablus and the neighboring villages of Salem and Beit Wazan on Saturday morning. Thirty-two-year-old Imad Abu Eisha from Beit Wazan reported the detentions, saying Israeli forces stormed his village at 3:00am and ransacked several homes before arresting a 23-year-old woman identified as Rima Abu Eisha, a student at An-Najah National University in Nablus. Local sources in the village of Salem east of Nablus told said Israeli forces arrested 24-year-old Ali Ishtayya from his home after they raided the village. In Nablus, 22-year-old Abdullah Al-Ikir was seized on Asira Ash-Shamaliyya street after several Israeli military jeeps stormed the city. more.. e-mail
IOF warplanes blast a number of targets in Gaza
Palestinian Information Center 2/14/2009
RAFAH, (PIC)-- Israeli warplanes blasted a number of targets along the Gaza Strip borders with Egypt and in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza late on Friday night. Security sources told PIC reporter that the Israeli warplanes launched four raids on the border area in the vicinity of Rafah crossings along with a number of suburbs in Rafah city. Six Palestinians were wounded in two Israeli aerial raids on Jabalia at midnight Friday after a warehouse containing wood was blasted in downtown Jabalia. The warehouse was completely burnt while nearby houses were damaged, security sources said. Another Israeli raid targeted an open area in Jabal Al-Rayes northeast of Gaza Strip while the Israeli army spokesman claimed that the raid targeted two workshops that manufacture "combat means". more.. e-mail
The Ma’aleh Adumim challenge
Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 2/15/2009
At a time when everyone bandies about the word "unity" like some hackneyed phrase, here is a public-opinion challenge for the new government, even at the price of a showdown with the United States: the building of thousands of housing units in the corridor between Ma’aleh Adumim and Jerusalem and linking the two cities as part of the much-discussed "E1 plan. "Every government - from Yitzhak Rabin’s to Ehud Olmert’s - has supported the plan but has not implemented it. Now the time has come to do so, before it’s too late, perhaps impossible. The outgoing defense minister, Ehud Barak, who asked us to consider "the moment of truth" during the election campaign, knows the lay of the land very well. He visited the area before the elections and thought that "without a willingness to build a contiguous link between Mount Scopus and Ma’aleh Adumim, Ma’aleh Adumim is in danger. " more.. e-mail
One dead, two injured in Israeli airstrike on southern Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/13/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – A Palestinian was killed and two others were injured on Friday afternoon as Israeli warplanes targeted a motorcycle in the southern Gaza Strip. The strikes occurred in the town of Abasan Al-Kabira, which is east of Khan Younis. According to the de facto government Health Ministry’s director of Ambulance and Emergency Services, Muawiyah Hussanein, three Palestinians were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. One was pronounced dead on arrival while two others were injured, one seriously and another moderately. The military group affiliated with the National Resistance Committees, the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades, announced that the first Israeli airstrike on Abasan targeted a group of militants affiliated to the group, injuring two of them seriously. Later on, Israeli warplanes carried out several raids targeting the border area between Egypt and southern Gaza in Rafah, injuring several others. more.. e-mail
Death toll of Israeli war on Gaza continues to mount; 1,374th Gazan dies in Egypt
Ma’an News Agency 2/13/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – The death toll of the Gaza war reached 1,374 Friday as Egyptian medical sources announced the death of a Gazan woman injured during Israel’s 22-day offensive on the Gaza Strip. Director of ambulance and emergency service in the Palestinian health ministry Muawiya Hassanain identified the victim as 24-year-old Nay Fayiz Hasan. She had been transferred to the Egyptian hospital mid-way through the war. [end]
IAF bombs Gaza Strip target, killing militant
Anshel Pfeffer, News Agencies and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 2/13/2009
An Israeli warplane bombed a target in the Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis Friday, killing one militant and critically wounding another. The Israel Defense Forces spokesman said the strike hit two Islamic Jihad militants who were planning a terrorist attack within Israel. The strike was the result of a joint operation of the IDF and the Shin Bet Security Services, the IDF spokesman said. Israeli aircraft later carried out six strikes on smuggling tunnels along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, an Israeli army spokesman said. There were no reports of casualties, Hamas security officials and local residents said. Earlier Friday, two Qassam rockets and a mortar shell fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip exploded in the western Negev, causing no casualties or damages. more.. e-mail
Palestinians: 1 dead in IAF strike
Ali Waked, YNetNews 2/13/2009
Palestinian sources report one dead, three injured near Khan Younis; IDF says strike targeted global Jihad "terrorists" planning to carry out attack in Israel -The Air Force (IAF) bombed east of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Friday. Palestinian sources reported one dead and three injured in the strike. According to Hamas and medical officials in the Strip, two gunmen belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees were critically wounded while riding a motorcycle near the town. The IDF Spokesperson’s Office confirmed the reports and stated that in a joint operation by the army and the Shin Bet, the Air Force bombed two "terrorists" belonging to the global Jihad’s wing in Gaza and identified a direct hit. The two terrorists, 28-year old Sleiman Abu-Sharitah and 27-year old Ali Kadera, were planning to carry out an attack in Israel, the statement said. more.. e-mail
14-year-old Palestinian killed by Israel Border Police in Hebron
Anshel Pfeffer and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 2/13/2009
The Israel Border Police on Friday killed a 14-year-old Palestinian in Hebron during a clash between the Israeli forces and stone-throwing Palestinian youths. The IDF said dozens of Palestinians hurled rocks at a military guard tower next to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank city and a soldier shot the ringleader. On Thursday night, an Israel Defense Forces unit operating in the West Bank town of Qabatiyeh, near Jenin, found a five kilogram explosive device and a smaller pipe bomb. Border Police sappers safely detonated the explosives. Two Palestinians were arrested in Nablus for their alleged involvement in the incident, Army Radio reported. [end]
Fourteen-year-old boy shot dead by Israeli troops in Hebron
Ma’an News Agency 2/13/2009
Hebron - Ma’an - Israeli soldiers shot and killed a child in Hebron near the Ibrahimi Mosque Friday afternoon. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces near the Abu Al-Rish checkpoint that prevents many Palestinians from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque (Tomb of the Patriarchs). Israeli soldiers opened fire at the group and killed 14-year-old Izz Al-Din Al-Jamal. Palestinian medical sources said the child died at the scene and arrived dead at Al-Muhtaseb Hospital. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. The child’s family condemned Israeli troops for killing their son, saying Izz Ad-Din had left the house to buy some dried goods at the corner store not far from the mosque. more.. e-mail
Palestinian child killed by IOF in the west bank, two fighters wounded in Gaza
Palestinian Information Center 2/13/2009
RAMALLAH, KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- IOF troops killed a Palestinian child on Friday in the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil, and wounded two resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip according to Palestinian medical sources. Eyewitnesses said that IOF troops clashed with Palestinian youth near the Abu al-Rish roadblock, in Tariq Bin Ziad road near the Ibrahimi Mosque, where youth threw some stones at IOF and the IOF troops fired live ammunition at the youth killing 14-year-old Izziddin al-Jamal. Palestinian medical sources said that al-Jamal was taken to Muhammad al-Muhtasib hospital in al-Khalil with serious chest wounds were he died. The family of al-Jamal accused the IOF of killing their son in cold blood, saying that their son went out of the house to buy some stuff for his family from the shops and some youth threw stones at the IOF troops who responded by firing live ammunition killing their son. more.. e-mail
3 Qassams hit western Negev
Ilana Curiel, YNetNews 2/13/2009
Rocket fire from Gaza continues, despite reports on close truce agreement: Qassam lands in Eshkol Regional Council at around 6:30 am Friday; an hour later, two additional rockets land near Sderot. No injuries or damage reported - A Qassam rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip on Friday morning landed in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel at around 6:30 am. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Almost an hour later, two additional rockets landed near Sderot. There were no injuries in this incident as well. The rockets were fired as Hamas reported of progress made in the Egyptian-mediate talks ahead of a lull agreement between the Palestinian organization and Israel. Deputy Hamas politburo chief Moussa Abu Marzouk said Thursday evening that such an understanding would be reached within two days. more.. e-mail
Three homemade projectiles fired from Gaza hit western Negev
Ma’an News Agency 2/13/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – A homemade projectile fired from the northern Gaza Strip landed in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel on Friday morning. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the attack,according to Israeli news reports. About one hour later, two other projectiles hit Sderot in the western Negev, again without causing injuries or damage, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Meanwhile, Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, said Egypt will announce a truce between Palestinians and Israelis within the next two days, according to a statement. After making several contacts with other Palestinian factions and the Israeli side, Abu Marzouk confirmed to the Middle East News Agency on Thursday evening. "We have accepted the truce with the Israeli side for a year and. . . more.. e-mail
Hizbullah in Palestine claims attacks on Sderot and Negev
Ma’an News Agency 2/13/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Hizbullah Brigades in Palestine claimed responsibility for attacking Sderot and the western Negev with two projectiles at dawn on Friday, according to a statement. The two projectiles were launched toward Sderot and the western Negev at around 5:30am on Friday, the group said, insisting that more attacks on Israeli forces were still to come. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the attacks, according to Israeli news reports. Regardless, a Palestinian was killed and two others were injured on Friday afternoon as Israeli warplanes targeted a motorcycle in the southern Gaza Strip. The strikes occurred in the town of Abasan Al-Kabira, which is east of Khan Younis. According to the de facto government Health Ministry’s director of Ambulance and Emergency Services, Muawiyah Hussanein, three Palestinians were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. more.. e-mail
Israeli troops discover explosive device south of Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/13/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers discovered an improvised explosive device and other bomb parts in a village near Jenin on Friday morning, according to Israeli sources. The device reportedly weighs some five kilograms, separately from a detonator found nearby. Soldiers reported that the device was detonated away from the village of Qabatia, south of Jenin, where it was discovered on Friday. One source reported that the situation “is under control. ”Soldiers also detained a number of residents in southeast Nablus. They were reportedly on a “wanted” list and were taken to nearby investigation centers for interrogation. [end]
Israel warns Hezbollah: Attempts to attack IAF jets will draw sharp response
Barak Ravid, Ha’aretz 2/13/2009
Israel warned Hezbollah this week that it will respond harshly to any attempt to down an Israel Air Force jet over Lebanon or to avenge last year’s assassination of the organization’s operations officer, Imad Mughniyeh. Israeli planes routinely fly over southern Lebanon [in breach of UNSC Resolution 1701] in an effort to collect intelligence about Hezbollah activities, and Israel currently enjoys unchallenged superiority in the air. Any attempt by Hezbollah to deploy anti-aircraft capabilities would alter the balance of power to Israel’s detriment. Hezbollah blames Israel for Mughniyeh’s death last February 12, though Israel has never admitted responsibility. The defense establishment was therefore on high alert yesterday as Hezbollah marked the one-year anniversary of the assassination. Israel’s message was transmitted via Michael Williams, the United Nations envoy to Lebanon, who visited Jerusalem earlier this week to meet with Israeli officials. -- See also: UNIFIL chief accuses Israel of violating Resolution 1701 more.. e-mail
4 youths detained near IDF officer’s home
Avi Cohen, YNetNews 2/13/2009
Two teen daughters of well-known Jewish figure in Hebron arrested along with two other girls outside Tel Aviv house of Brigadier General Noam Tibon, commander of Judea and Samaria Brigade, on suspicion of spray-painting graffiti against him. Father: We won’t let him be until he leaves office - Four female youths aged 15 to 17 were arrested Thursday night on suspicion of spray-painting graffiti against Judea and Samaria Brigade Commander Brigadier General Noam Tibon on a street adjacent to his Tel Aviv home. Two of the suspects are the daughters of a well-known figure from the Jewish settlement in Hebron. One of them is even suspected of violating a restraining order issued against her following a similar incident which took place in the area in the past. The teenage girls will all be brought before a judge for a remand hearing at the Tel Aviv Juvenile Court. more.. e-mail
The Israeli military kidnaps 21 Palestinians during morning invasions in the West Bank
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/12/2009
21 Palestinians where kidnapped by the Israeli military during morning invasions on Wednesday that targeting several areas in the West Bank, Palestinian sources reported. In Fahma village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli troops kidnapped 15 men. Villagers reported that troops stormed the village, placed a curfew and then searched homes, then took 15 men and left. Five men where kidnapped when Israeli troops searched and ransacked homes in villagers near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, local sources said. Meanwhile, another two men were taken from the village of Marda, located near the northern West Bank City of Tubas. [end]
Israeli forces seize 20 Palestinians in West Bank raids
Ma’an News Agency 2/12/2009
Ramallah – Ma’an – Israeli forces seized at least 20 Palestinians from their homes across several regions in the West Bank on Wednesday night. In the Umm Ash-Sharayet neighborhood of Ramallah, Palestinian security sources said Israeli troops seized Muhammad Qasem, origninally from Gaza. In the village of Silwad, northeast of Ramallah Israeli soldiers detained Fathi Jaber Ayyad, 21, Abdel Qader Hammad, 22, and Abdel Rahim Salah, 22. In the village of Marda, in Salfit district, Israeli soldiers seized two young men, Nael Khafsh and Ihab Ibdah, from their homes at 4am. According to witnesses, Israeli forces raided several houses in the village. A number of residents recieved documents summoning them for interrogation by the Israeli security services. According to the military, Israeli soldiers found a pistol and ammunition in one man’s house in Jenin. more.. e-mail
Israeli helicopters attack Khan Younis
Ma’an News Agency 2/12/2009
Gaza – Ma’an/Agencies – An Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a Palestinian security compound in the city of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip early on Thursday. The Hamas-affiliated de facto government compound was damaged, but no injuries were reported. The building had already come under fire during Israel’s three-week war on the Gaza Strip that left 1,373 Palestinians dead. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying that it was in response to mortars fired from Gaza into Israel on Wednesday. According to Israel, three mortar rounds were fired into the Eshkol Regional Council area, east of the Gaza Strip Wednesday. The first mortar was fired at around 3 pm, and was followed by two others shortly before 7 pm. On Tuesday, Palestinian fighters launched a homemade projectile into the desert east of Gaza just before polls closed in Israel’s national election. more.. e-mail
IDF strikes Hamas post in south Gaza, after ’day’ of mortar fire
Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 2/12/2009
Israeli warplanes on late Wednesday night struck a Hamas post in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said that the strike before dawn Thursday came in response to mortar fire Wednesday on the western Negev. There were no reports of casualties in the attack. "As the sole authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas bears full responsibility for all terror activities originating within its area of control," the IDF said. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired two mortar shells at the western Negev over the course of Wednesday, a day after Israel held general elections, the results of which are likely to influence any future peace deal in the region. A Qassam rocket fired by Gaza militants exploded late Tuesday evening in an open field near the western Negev city of Sderot, just half an hour before the polls were to close. more.. e-mail
Israeli helicopter strike on besieged Gaza
Middle East Online 2/12/2009
GAZA CITY - An Israeli helicopter attacked an area in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, but no one was injured in the raid, witnesses and Palestinian security services sources said. The helicopter fired two missiles on the Khan Yunis headquarters of the security services of the democratically elected Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. They caused further damage to the building that was already attacked during Israel’s 22-day military offensive against the territory. Israel’s war on Gaza killed 1,330 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and wounded 5,450 others. Among the dead were 437 children, 110 women, 123 elderly men, 14 medics and four journalists. The wounded include 1,890 children and 200 people in serious condition. The war also left tens of thousands of houses destroyed, while their residents remained homeless in the winter cold. more.. e-mail
IOF warplanes shell Palestinian police station
Palestinian Information Center 2/12/2009
KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- Israeli warplanes at dawn Thursday shelled a police station in Khan Younis city, south of the Gaza Strip, which was already targeted in previous air raids. Security sources told PIC reporter that Israeli F-16s fired two missiles at the premises inflicting more damage on it. The sources pointed out that the abandoned police station was previously bombed several times. The IOF spokesman claimed that the shelling was in reprisal to the firing of mortar shells from Gaza at Israeli settlements adjacent to the Strip. [end]
Israeli warplanes attack a Hamas target in southern Gaza
Rami Almeghari, International Middle East Media Center News 2/12/2009
Israeli warplanes attacked on Thursday a Hamas target in southern Gaza Strip, with no injuries reported. Witnesses said that a n Israeli warplane fired two missiles at the headquarter of Hamas-led security forces in Khan Younis city. The said building was damaged during the last Israeli war on Gaza , which lasted 22 days. [end]
Israeli troops seize four Palestinians, electronics east of Bethlehem
Ma’an News Agency 2/12/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli troops raided homes and detained four Palestinians in areas east of Bethlehem before sunrise Thursday. Security sources said that the Israeli troops raided Al-Asakreh village and detained 3 19-year-old Palestinians identified as:Iyad Ali Ibrahim Asakreh, Abed Khaled Awad Jaber Asakreh, and Abdel Karim Omar Asakreh. All three were taken to an unknown destination. In Bet Ta’mar the Danoun home was raided, and 25-year-old Ziyad Muhamad Khalaf Danoun detained. His computer and mobile phone were seized and taken from the home. [end]
Israeli army arrests two boys following Qalqiliya clashes
Ma’an News Agency 2/12/2009
Qalqiliya – Ma’an – Israeli forces arrested two boys in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya Thursday night following clashes between youth and Israeli soldiers in the city. Israeli soldiers took13- year-old Mu’men Abu Shareb and12-year-0ldAmin Jebrilto an unknown location. [end]
Palestine Today 021209
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/12/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 4 m 00s || 3. 66 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Thursday, February 12th, 2009. The Israeli military bombs targets in Gaza and kidnaps civilians from the West Bank. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned. The News Cast 21 Palestinians where kidnapped in Israeli military invasions on Wednesday morning that targeting several areas in the West Bank, Palestinian sources reported. In Fahma village near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli troops kidnapped 15 men. Villagers said that troops stormed the village, put a curfew in place and searched homes, taking 15 men with them when they left. Five men where kidnapped when Israeli troops searched and ransacked homes in villages near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, local sources added. more.. e-mail
News in Brief - Former Gush Katif settlers moved to occupied Golan
Ha’aretz 2/12/2009
Moshav Avnei Eitan on the Golan Heights has gained 30 plots of land to accommodate the arrival of former Gush Katif residents, who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The new residents will join 22 families from the Gaza community who already live on the moshav. Most worked in agriculture, and continue to do so. Some have abandoned farming, others have managed to grow the same crops in the Golan, which they farmed in Gush Katif: lettuce, cabbage and broccoli. They have built greenhouses to help adapt the crops to the cooler Golan climate. (Eli Ashkenazi) Thousands of students at teacher-training colleges, who participate in the Perach tutoring program, have not received their scholarship payments. The delay stems from a dispute between Perach and the Education Ministry over the terms of their agreement. The tutoring project pairs college students with schoolchildren of all ages from disadvantaged backgrounds. more.. e-mail
Yesha Council revels in Lieberman’s success
Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 2/12/2009
’Elections proved consensus regarding two-state solution nothing more than corrupt spin,’ settler leader says, adding Yisrael Beiteinu chairman ’will be one of the strongest supporters of the settlement enterprise’ -Despite the inconclusive results of Tuesday’s general elections, it is clear that the political Right will have a majority in the 18th Knesset, leading Yesha Council head Danny Dayan to say that Israeli voters made "an obvious and unequivocal ideological decision. " Speaking to Ynet Thursday, Dayan said "for years we’ve been hearing of a consensus within the Israeli public regarding the two-state solution and the need for the establishment of a Palestinian state, but the recent elections have proven this to be nothing more than a corrupt spin. "Voter’s ChoiceDruze in Golan vote Lieberman out of ’protest’ / Hagai Einav Yisrael. . . more.. e-mail
Teenager hospitalized after shot by settlers
Ma’an News Agency 2/11/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Seventeen-year-old Ali Mahfouth Hamamrah, a resident of the village of Husan, near Bethlehem, was transferred to Ramallah Public Hospital on Wednesday after Israeli settlers shot him on Monday. Hamamrah’s family said Israeli settlers shot him on highway 60, an Israeli settler bypass road that cuts through the West Bank. According to the family Hamamrah needs further treatment. According to witnesses, a settler stepped out of a bus and shot Hamamrah in the leg. An Israeli soldiers in a jeep reportedly witnessed the shooting but did nothing. Part of the land of Husan is occupied by the settlement Betar Ellit. [end]
Corpse of Gaza man arrives from Egypt
Ma’an News Agency 2/11/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – The corpse of 32-year-old Hussein Shamiyya, arrived in Gaza on Wednesday after he died in an Egyptian hospital of injuries he sustained in an Israeli airstrike in January, Palestinian medical officials said. Shamiyya, a fighter with the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades, died on 2 February. Israeli warplanes launched a missile at his motorcycle in the city of Khan Younis on 29 January. Several children were also injured in the same attack, which took place outside Nasser Hospital, ten days after Israel declared a halt to its offensive on Gaza. “Shamiyya’s death was announced on Monday at Al-Ma’adi Hospital in Egypt after he was seriously injured when he was targeted by Israeli warplanes in Khan Younis. He was treated at Nasser Hospital in the city, then at Ash-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City before he was taken to Egypt,” said Muawiya Hassanein, director of ambulance and emergency service in the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. more.. e-mail
A Palestinian man from Gaza dies in Egypt due to earlier wounds
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/11/2009
A Palestinian man from the Gaza Strip was reported dead at an Egyptian hospital on Wednesday. Fayz Shamiya, 23, from Gaza City was moved to Egypt last week after sustaining severe wounds in the head during the Israeli operation "Cast Lead". According to the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo Shamiya is the Palestinian number 33 to die in Egypt after sustaining wounds in the latest Israeli attacks. [end]
Israeli warplanes cut water supply to northern Gaza Strip
Palestinian Information Center 2/10/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- The water authority in the coastal areas in northern Gaza Strip announced on Monday that an Israeli air strike has destroyed the Atatrah water well that supplies the Atatrah and the Salateen areas, cutting water supply to more than 10,000 Palestinians in the area. In press statement he made over the incident, Munther Shablak, the director of the authority, pointed out that the aerial raid directly hit the well and destroyed it, leaving inhabitants of the two areas fighting for survival. But Shablak underlined that technical teams of the authority were immediately dispatched to the affected area to repair and restore water supplies to the people, adding that the water sector was badly damaged by the Israeli bombardment, causing catastrophic repercussions to many projects in the area. In a related matter, the Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement,. . . more.. e-mail
Palestinian Killed by Israeli Troops
Gulf News, MIFTAH 2/11/2009
Dubai: On the eve of Israeli parliamentary elections, a Palestinian fighter belonging to Islamic Jihad was killed by Israeli troops in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hannoun. The fighter was on a mission to attack Israeli patrol on the border with Israel, according to Islamic Jihad. Earlier in the day, Israel carried out air strikes on a building used by Hamas police, with no casualties reported. The air strikes came in response to continued rocket fire from Hamas on Sunday. Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki accused Hamas of fostering instability in the region ahead of the Israeli vote. According to Malki, the Palestinian Authority - which is at odds with Hamas - is particularly worried that the attacks will push Israeli voters to vote for a candidate who is against peace with the Palestinians. Final opinion polls placed the the hawkish Likud party ahead of the centrist Kadima party by a few seats. more.. e-mail
IOA seals off Jerusalem during elections, extremist Jews desecrate the Aqsa
Palestinian Information Center 2/11/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authority on Tuesday sealed off the occupied city of Jerusalem and deployed thousands of police and military elements in the city and at main junctions leading to it alleging it was prompted by the elections. Movement of Palestinian Jerusalemites in the city were monitored and to some extent restricted, especially at checkpoints. Exploiting the hermitic closure of the sacred city and restriction of Palestinian movement there, Israeli fanatic groups sneaked into the Aqsa Mosque desecrating it and chanting racist and religious slogans loudly. The provocative practices of those settlers irked Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque, prompting them to block those settlers before Israeli occupation police and soldiers rushed to rescue the settlers. Two Palestinian worshippers Ahmed Hamoud and Fahmi Abbas were arrested by the police,. . . more.. e-mail
’Imad Mughniyya’ group claims shooting attack near Ramallah
Ma’an News Agency 2/11/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – A Palestinain armed organization calling itself the “Imad Mughniyya Groups” after a slain Hizbullah leader has claimed responsibility for opening fire on an Israeli car. Israel has confirmed the attack, which took place near the settlement Bet El, in the Ramallah area on Tuesday night. Israeli soldiers reportedly found bullet cartridges at the scene. No injuries were reported. In a statement the group said the attack was a response to “Israeli aggression. ”In their statement, the Imad Mughniyya Groups claimed allegiance to the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement. Imad Mughniyya was the military leader of the Lebanese resistance movement Hizbullah. He was assassinated in a car bombing in Syria in 2008. Saturday is the one year anniversary of his death. Analysts have predicted that the anniversary would coincide with increased militant activity. more.. e-mail
Israeli troops impose curfew on Jayous village
Ma’an News Agency 2/11/2009
Qalqiliya – Ma’an – Several Israeli military vehicles overran the Qalqiliya-area village of Jayous on Wednesday night and imposed a curfew on the area. The troops blasted into the area amid gunfire and sound bombs, announcing a curfew to residents, witnesses reported. As the soldiers entered the village Palestinian youths showered the vehicles with stones and empty bottles, sparking brief clashes. Locals host weekly demonstrations against the building of the separation on village land, and have reported an increase in Israeli military activity since the popular campaign started. [end]
Violence Breaks Quiet of Cease-Fire on Eve of Israel’s National Election
Ibrahim Barzak, MIFTAH 2/11/2009
GAZA CITY - Israeli aircraft struck two targets in the Gaza Strip and a Gaza militant died in a clash with troops on the border yesterday, as an official of the moderate Palestinian government accused Hamas of trying to boost hawkish candidates in Israel’s election. The violence on the eve of the vote occurred as Egyptian mediators continued their efforts to cement a long-term cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, after the three weeks of intense fighting that racked the coastal territory last month. Israel’s military said the two air strikes early in the day targeted militant positions and were a response to rocket fire from Gaza aimed at southern Israel on Sunday. The military also said soldiers spotted an armed militant trying to sneak into Israel from Gaza overnight and opened fire, after which a bomb belt the man was wearing detonated. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 021109
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/11/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 4 m 00s || 3. 66 MB ||Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. imemc. org, for Wednesday, February 11th, 2009. A Palestinian man from Gaza died from wounds sustained earlier, while Israeli army invasions are reported in the West Bank. The News Cast A Palestinian man from the Gaza Strip was reported dead at an Egyptian hospital on Wednesday. Fayz Shamiya, 23, from Gaza City had been moved to Egypt last week after sustaining severe wounds in the head during the Israeli operation "Cast Lead". According to the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo Shamiya is the 33rd Palestinian to die in Egypt after sustaining wounds in the latest Israeli attacks. Also in the Strip, a Palestinian official announced that the Israeli military declared that three crossings in Gaza will be opened on Wednesday. more.. e-mail
Gaza mortar shells strike western Negev; no casualties
Anshel Pfeffer, Ha’aretz 2/11/2009
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired four mortar shells at the western Negev during the course of the day Wednesday, a day after Israel held general elections, the results of which are likely to influence any future peace deal in the region. A Qassam rocket fired by Gaza militants exploded late Tuesday evening in an open field near the western Negev city of Sderot, just half an hour before the polls were to close. Also Tuesday night, someone opened fire on a car with Israeli license plates near the settlement of Beit El in the West Bank. No injuries were reported in the incident. Security personnel who examined the scene of the shooting found 17 bullet shells on the ground. Nearly 40 Qassam rockets, mortar shells, and Grad missiles have been fired at Israel since a shaky cease-fire with Hamas took effect over two weeks ago, according to the Israel Defense Forces. more.. e-mail
3 mortar shells land in Eshkol; no injuries
Ilana Curiel, YNetNews 2/11/2009
Attacks on southern Israel continue Wednesday as mortars fired from Gaza Strip hit in Negev region, causing no injuries or damage - While reports in Egypt continue to focus on progress in talks towards a ceasefire, fire continues to fall on southern Israel. Two mortar shells fired from northern Gaza Wednesday evening landed in Eshkol Regional Council limits. No injuries or damage were reported. Earlier, another mortar launched toward the same region landed in an open area. There were no reports of injuries or damage in that attack either. Tuesday night, half an hour before polling stations closed, a Qassam rocket was fired at the western Negev. The rocket exploded in an open area between the Sha’ar Hanegev and Sdot Negev regional councils. No one was injured and no damage was caused. more.. e-mail
Israeli bomblets continue to harm Lebanon
Middle East Online 2/11/2009
BEIRUT - Waning international interest and funding is harming efforts to rid southern Lebanon of its hundreds of thousands of remaining cluster bomblets, posing a continuing threat to farmers and children, according to mine clearance organisations. Israel dropped a large number of cluster bombs on southern Lebanon during the July 2006 war with the Shia guerrilla and political group Hezbollah. Each bomb can release hundreds of individual bomblets, and about a quarter failed to explode on impact, effectively becoming landmines that can kill or maim. “For almost all the organisations, it’s a continuous struggle to generate enough interest and funding to keep the teams on the ground working, which obviously has an impact on the amount of cluster bombs [bomblets] they can clear,” said Tekimiti Gilbert, the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre’s (UNMACC) acting programme manager. more.. e-mail
Three reported dead in Gaza, one of earlier wounds and two during a morning attack
Ghassan Bannoura and Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/9/2009
Two Palestinian men were reported dead on Monday morning, one due to earlier wounds sustained during Israel’s operation "Cast Lead", and the other during a morning attack by the Israeli Air Force, doctors reported. Khaled Al Kafarnah, age 22, was killed on Monday morning by missile shrapnel that hit him in the head, after an Israeli drone fired a missile at him in the northern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. The Al Qudes Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, said that Al Kafarnah and another fighter clashed with Israeli forces that invaded the area. During the armed clashes, an unmanned Israeli drone fired missiles at them, killing them. The Al Quds Brigades has yet to release the name of the other fighter. Local sources in Gaza reported that Israeli unmanned drones fired several missiles at a group of people in Khan Younis, and the other attack targeted a police station in the nearby Beit Lahyia town. more.. e-mail
Bethlehem: Israeli settlers attack farmers’ lands and install portable homes
Ghassan Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/9/2009
Scores of Israeli settlers attacked farm lands that belong to Palestinian farmers from the village of al-Khadir, located near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, on Monday. The farmers said that the armed Israeli settlers arrived and installed two portable homes on the farmers’ lands. they added that this is not the first attack the settlers have carried out in an attempt to annex village lands that are located near the illegal settlement of Efrat, which is built on stolen land from Palestinians. [end]
IDF confirms killing Islamic Jihad gunman in Gaza
Anshel Pfeffer and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/9/2009
An Islamic Jihad militant died in a clash with Israel Defense Forces troops and Israel Air Force jets struck two targets in Gaza early Monday as mediators tried to firm up a long-term Gaza cease-fire a day before Israelis go to the polls in a national election. Islamic Jihad said in a statement faxed to reporters that one of its fighters was killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike. The IDF said troops spotted an armed militant trying to cross the Gaza-Israel border late Sunday and opened fire, after which a bomb belt he was wearing detonated. Islamic Jihad had earlier said the man killed was on a mission to attack an Israeli patrol along the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the Islamic Jihad group said. The IDF denied that tank fire or strikes of any kind were carried out around the time of the man’s death, and the circumstances of the incident remained unclear. more.. e-mail
’Israeli shell’ kills Gaza fighter
Al Jazeera 2/9/2009
A member of Islamic Jihad has been killed after an Israeli tank shell hit the northern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian armed group has said. The man, who was killed on Monday near the town of Beit Hanoun, was part of a mission planned to attack Israeli troops along the border, a spokesman from the group said. Hamas officials confirmed that he was killed by an Israeli tank shell fired from across the border. Israel’s military has said it was unaware of the incident. Earlier, Israel launched an air raid on a security compound in southern Gaza. There were no confirmed reports of casualties in the raid. The security compound in Khan Yunis was attacked three times during Israel’s war on Gaza last month. More than 1,300 Palestinians died, at least of a third of that number women and children, during the 22-day assault on the coastal territory. At least 13 Israelis, including three civilians, were killed over the course of the war, which Israel said was aimed at preventing rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. more.. e-mail
Israeli artillery fire kills Palestinian in Gaza
Middle East Online 2/9/2009
GAZA CITY - Israeli artillery fire killed one Palestinian in the north of the Gaza Strip on Monday, medics said. Khaled al-Kafarneh was killed when an artillery shell hit his house in Beit Lahiya, they said. The Israeli army said it was checking into the reports. The violence comes as Egypt continued efforts to broker a lasting truce in the coastal strip to replace shaky mutual ceasefires called by Israel and Hamas on January 18 after Israel’s 22-day on Gaza. Israeli warplanes strike Gaza Strip Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes Monday on the Gaza Strip that caused damage but no injuries, witnesses and Palestinian security sources said. An Israeli F-16 fired two missiles against a police post near the southern city of Khan Yunis, sparking a fire. An Israeli helicopter also carried out a raid in an area of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, but caused no casualties. more.. e-mail
Quds Brigades fighter killed in clash with IOF patrol
Palestinian Information Center 2/9/2009
BEIT HANUN, (PIC)- The armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, the Quds Brigades, on Monday declared that one of its fighters was killed in a clash with a special unit of the Israeli occupation forces east of Beit Hanun town to the north of the Gaza Strip. The armed wing said in a communiqué that Khaled Al-Kafarane, 22, was martyred during the armed clash while in the company of another fighter affiliated with the armed wing of the popular front for the liberation of Palestine - general command. It explained that the two engaged the special IOF unit while trying to advance into a field east of Beit Hanun for half an hour before IOF choppers fired two missiles at the fighters killing Kafarne while the fate of the other was still unknown. Meanwhile, local sources told PIC reporter that the Palestinian fighter Hussein Shamiya, 25, who was under treatment in an Egyptian hospital. . . more.. e-mail
Israeli warplanes blast targets in Gaza Strip
Palestinian Information Center 2/9/2009
KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- Israeli warplanes blasted a police station and another target in Khan Younis and Beit Lahia, in south and north of the Gaza Strip respectively, at dawn Monday, local sources reported. They told PIC reporter that the Israeli raid badly damaged the police station in downtown Khan Younis city. They recalled that the same position was shelled during the Israeli war on Gaza last month. Another raid was reported on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza but no casualties were reported in both raids. Meanwhile, well informed sources told the PIC that Israeli agents had kidnapped a Fatah activist after deceiving him into accompanying them near to the Gaza borders then handed him to the Israeli occupation forces. Ala Al-Hums was reported missing during the Israeli war on Gaza until the Red Cross informed his family on Sunday that he was held in the Israeli prison of Askalan. more.. e-mail
Palestinian killed in IAF strike in Gaza
Ali Waked, YNetNews 2/9/2009
Israeli aircraft strike Islamist group positions in retaliation for Sunday’s rocket fire; 22-year-old Islamic Jihad man critically injured dies of wounds at hospital, damage caused to structures -Israeli aircraft struck Hamas outposts in south Gaza during the early hours of Monday morning in retaliation for Sunday’s rocket fire on Israel. Palestinian sources reported thatIslamic Jihad member Khaled Kaparana, 22, was critically injured in the strike and died of his wounds at the hospital several hours later. Palestinian sources in the Strip said the Air Force attacked a Hamas outpost and a structure belonging to its security forces in Khan Younis. According to reports, the structures were damaged and a fire broke at the scene. Reports of another IAF attack in Gaza were received a short while later. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 020909
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/9/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 3 m 00s || 2. 75 MB ||Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center www. imemc. org, for Monday, February 9th, 2009. Israeli army attacks Gaza killing two fighters and settlers attack farmers in the West Bank, these stories and more, coming up, stay tuned. The News Cast Three Palestinian men were reported dead on Monday morning, one due to earlier wounds sustained during Israel’s operation "Cast Lead", and the other during a morning attack by the Israeli Air Force, doctors said. 22-year-old Khaled Al Kafarnah was killed on Monday morning when he was hit in the head by shrapnel after an Israeli drone fired a missile at him in the northern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, said that Al Kafarnah and another fighter had clashed with Israeli forces that invaded the area. more.. e-mail
Israeli Navy shells eastern and northern beaches of Gaza
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/8/2009
The Israeli Navy shelled on Saturday several areas along the northern and western areas of Gaza beach, inflicting extensive damage to dozens of fishing boats that belong to Gaza fishermen. The Arabs48 news website reported that naval gunship opened fired at the fishermen and their boats in an attempt to bar them from fishing. On Friday, a Palestinian fisherman was injured when the Israeli Army opened fire at dozens of homes and fishing boats in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The ongoing Israeli siege in the Gaza Strip enforces a blockade on all aspects of life. The "Israeli siege" consists of sealing off all border terminals, sealing off commercial terminals, putting restrictions on available cash in Gaza banks, controlling international humanitarian aid destined for Gaza (when it doesn’t arrive, what happens to it? ), and barring fishermen from fishing, thus putting an end to Gazan’s only sources of livelihood. more.. e-mail
Israeli daily fleshes out anatomy of Mughniyeh assassination
Daily Star 2/9/2009
BEIRUT: Hizbullah military commander Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated by Israeli Mossad agents supplied with information gathered by American CIA officials in Iraq, according to a report published in an Israeli newspaper. The Yediot Ahronot newspaper [not available on its website - Ed. ] said it had received new details about Mughniyeh’s death from an anonymous Lebanese official who had been charged with investigating the killing, and from Robert Baer, a former CIA case officer. The report claimed that important details used to plan the assassination were gathered from Ali Moussa Daqduq, a Hizbullah operative who was arrested in Iraq in January 2007, where he was allgedly training members of the Shiite Mehdi Army. He was handed to US intelligence agents, who extracted a wealth of information about Mughniyeh from their prisoner, including his telephone numbers, his physical description, his behavioral traits and the names of his acquaintances. more.. e-mail
Israeli frigates open fire at fishing boats in north Gaza
Palestinian Information Center 2/8/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Israeli frigates on Sunday morning opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats at the northern Gaza shore, which inflicted damge on them, and also fired a number of shells along the coastal strip in the Shati refugee camp, which caused a state of panic among children as they were en route to school. A Palestinian fisherman was wounded yesterday when Israeli frigates shelled the coastal area of Rafah town in south Gaza. In an interview exclusively conducted by the PIC, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, stated that the Gaza battle created a major change in the Arab and Islamic Ummah (Nation) and caused a great awakening at the level of solidarity with the option of resistance. Abu Obeida underlined that the Israeli war on Gaza made millions of people join the resistance’s side and this would be the start of a significant change. . . more.. e-mail
Israeli warplanes attack Gaza-Egypt border line
Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/8/2009
Israeli warplanes attacked on Sunday Gaza-Egypt border line in southern Gaza, Palestinian sources reported. The sources said that the Israeli warplanes carried a series of air strikes on the area that separates Gaza from Egypt, where Palestinians use underground tunnels to bring in essential goods and commodities from nearby Egypt as Israel closes the border crossings for more than 19 months now. Also, the Israeli air raids hit an open field in the eastern parts of Rafah city, with no casualities reported in both raids. From its part, Israeli army confirmed that its warplanes targeted today four underground tunnels on the Gaza-Egypt border line as well as weapons warehouse in southern Gaza Strip. An army spokesperson , was quoted by Palestinian media sources as saying that the shelling came in response to homemade shells fire today from Gaza into southern Israel. more.. e-mail
Israel: Gaza projectile strikes near Ashkelon; no injuries
Ma’an News Agency 2/8/2009
Bethlehem - Ma’an - Israeli sources reported a second rocket strike on areas surrounding Gaza Sunday, this time landing near the city of Ashkelon. The projectile was reportedly a Russian-made Grad missile, which landed in an open area, causing no casualties or damage. None of the Palestinian armed groups have yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier a homemade projectile struck a parking lot in a Kibbutz near Gaza, also causing no casualties. Cars were damaged. Early on Friday morning two Palestinian projectiles landed the Shaar Haganev area to the east of Gaza. Israel responded by bombing 15 targets in the southern Gaza Strip, primarily tunnels used for smuggling goods under the Egypt-Gaza border. Israeli leaders have vowed to respond militarily each time a Palestinian missile or homemade projectile lands in Israel. more.. e-mail
IOA destroys Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, arrests teenagers in Al-Khalil
Palestinian Information Center 2/8/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Five Palestinian homes were destroyed in Alezariya suburb, east of the occupied city of Jerusalem, in preparation to expand the biggest Israeli settlement in the West Bank Ma’ale Adomim, sources in the anti-wall popular campaign confirmed. The dwellings, the sources added, belong to the Bedouin Al-Salayleh family, which is a branch of the Jahhaleen tribe in the area. The sources added that big numbers of IOF troops surrounded the area and declared it a "closed military zone" before they started demolishing tents and mobile caravans of the local people, all of them are shepherds. "We received two tents from the Red Cross, and immediately erected them on the ruins of our homes, and although the two tents weren’t enough for us, we will stay here and we will never leave our land at all cost", said a member of the displaced family. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces blockade Bethlehem-area village
Ma’an News Agency 2/8/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli forces have blockaded the West Bank village of Tequa, southeast of Bethlehem, local Palestinian sources said on Sunday evening. Sources in the village told Ma’an that a large number of Israeli soldiers have shut down all three routes into the community, declaring it a ‘closed military zone. ’Residents have been prevented from moving in or out. No reason has been given for the closure. [end]
Settlers bulldoze land in Yasuf
Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Stop The Wall 2/3/2009
Last week under the watch of soldiers, settlers from Tappauh bulldozed tens of dunums of agricultural land belonging to the village of Yasuf. The land, which was closed to the villagers years ago, is likely to be used for the expansion of nearby settlements. Yasuf is a small village located north east of Salfit. The targeted land, which is around 1000 dunums in size and located about a kilometer west of the residential area of the village, is used to grow various types of crops. According to the head of village council, settler groups began bulldozing village land at the start of the Gaza bombardment and continue to do so today. Families from the village used to rely on this agricultural product to provide them with a key source of income. However, Occupation forces closed all access roads with stone and dirt mounds and forbade villagers from entering almost seven years ago. more.. e-mail
U.S. Jew stabbed in the face by Palestinians in Jerusalem
Jonathan Lis and Yuval Goren and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/8/2009
Three Palestinian youths are believed to have stabbed an American Jewish student in the face near the Hebrew University campus in Jerusalem late Saturday. The victim, 19, was later hospitalized in light-to-moderate condition. Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld says the student told police he was lost on a Jerusalem road late Saturday and stopped the men for directions. The student identified the men as Arabs and said they attacked him with a knife, slashing his face and neck. Rosenfeld did not give the student’s name or age, saying only he was enrolled at the city’s Hebrew University. The university had no immediate comment. In a separate incident Sunday morning, a 20-year-old Israel Defense Forces soldier fought off an assailant who tried to stab him in Jaffa. The attacker later fled, after which police embarked on a manhunt to find him. The soldier was unharmed in the attempted stabbing, the motivation of which is still being investigated. more.. e-mail
Youth stabbed in J’lem, soldier attacked in Jaffa
Avi Cohen, YNetNews 2/8/2009
Lost youth says stabbed by Arabs near gas station in capital after stopping to ask for directions, suffers light to moderate wounds. Unknown assailant shouting in Arabic attempting to stab soldier in Jaffa is fought off, soldier remains unharmed - A Jewish youth sustained light to moderate stab wounds after being attacked near a gas station in Jerusalem on Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 2 am. The youth said he lost his way to the student dorms in the city and was attacked by three Arabs when he stopped to ask for directions, and was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Magen David Adom paramedic Hanan Meir told Ynet, "He was sitting on a chair in the gas station with a sweater around his neck to stop the bleeding. Since we were without police escort, we put him straight in to the ambulance and started driving. more.. e-mail
Solider suspected of fabricating Jaffa knife attack
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 2/8/2009
Military prosecution to launch probe against soldier who said Arab tried to stab him; soldier sticking by his version -The Military Advocate General’s Office is expected to order the launching of an investigation against a 20-year-old soldier who claimed to have been attacked by a knife-wielding Arab near the military court in Jaffa Sunday morning. It is suspected that the soldier fabricated the story for reasons that are not yet known. It is not clear whether the prosecution will seek the soldier’s arrest, but in any case he will be summoned for questioning on Monday morning. The soldier, who is sticking by his version of the events, said the attacker fled the scene after he had punched him. Following the soldier’sreport, police began scouring the area in search of an assailant, but came up empty handed. more.. e-mail
Palestinian injured as Israeli military jeep collides with vehicle near Huwwara
Ma’an News Agency 2/8/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – A Palestinian sustained moderate wounds after an Israeli military jeep collided with his near the Huwwara checkpoint south of Nablus. Palestinian medical sources identified the man as 41-year-old Hasan Abu Aun from Nur Ash-Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem. Aun was driving on the main street north towards Huwwara when Israeli military jeep collided with him. Aun was evacuated to Al-Ittihad Hospital by Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance. [end]
Rocket hits southern Ashkelon
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/8/2009
Air raid siren sounds in southern city at around 1:50 pm Sunday, followed by blast; no injuries or damage reported. Earlier, Qassam rocket lands in parking lot in western Negev kibbutz, damaging cars - Cairo, Jerusalem discuss ceasefire while rocket fire continues:A rocket landed in southern Ashkelon on Sunday afternoon. An air raid siren sounded in the area at around 1:50 pm, followed by a blast. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Amit, an Ashkelon resident, told Ynet, "Several minutes ago I heard a very weak Color Red alert. We usually don’t hear the Color Red alarm in the city, and this time it was activated. A moment later I heard a boom. "The siren system in the city’s southern industrial zone was amplified recently, so that Ashkelon’s southern neighborhood could hear the alarm from there. more.. e-mail
Gaza rocket hits southern Israel
Al Jazeera 2/8/2009
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip has landed in southern Israel, setting several cars on fire, the Israeli military has said. The rocket landed in an agricultural community near the southern town of Sderot, the military said. No one was injured. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since Israel ended a 22-day military offensive in Gaza on January 18 that left more than 1,300 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians. Israel’s stated aim of the war was to halt cross-border rocket attacks from the Palestinian coastal enclave. Truce negotiations Egypt is trying to secure a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group. Diplomats said the Egyptian proposal includes a prisoner exchange and the initial opening of at least two of the enclave’s border crossings. Israel wants any truce deal to include the release of Gilad Shalit, the soldier held. . . more.. e-mail
Palestinians fire 2 rockets at South
Jerusalem Post 2/8/2009
After terrorists fired two rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel during the day, Israeli Air Force jets bombed two Hamas outposts in the Strip late on Sunday night. The IAF pilots identified direct hits in both cases, Army Radio reported. The IDF stressed that the airstrikes came in response to the rocket fire. In the latest attack, a Grad-model Katyusha rocket landed in the vicinity of Ashkelon on Sunday evening. Earlier on Sunday, two cars were severely damaged when a Kassam rocket fired by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip hit a parking lot in a Sha’ar Hanegev kibbutz. There were no casualties in the attack, which came shortly before children were set to leave for school. The Ashkelon Municipality was advised by security sources to prepare for a trickle of rockets in the coming days, but could expect them to cease soon afterward, The Jerusalem Post has learned. more.. e-mail
Israel: Gaza strike an alternative to ceasefire
Ma’an News Agency 2/8/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israel threatened on Sunday to hit a “major target” in the Gaza Strip if projectiles continue to be launched into Israel, despite ongoing indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aiming to achieve a long-term ceasefire. According to Israel’s Channel 10 television, the announcement came Sunday as a Gaza projectile hit a kibbutz in the western Negev. No casualties were reported and no factions have yet claimed the attack. ‘Israel will not remain handcuffed,’ was the sentiment from analysts who had little to offer on the nature of the target. Channel 10’s analyst Alof Ben David, speculated that “There will be either ceasefire agreement or effective deterrence for Hamas,” he said, and added that the decision to damage Hamas came “despite the fact that Israel knows it is factions other than Hamas who are launching projectiles. more.. e-mail
Two Gaza rockets strike west Negev as truce talks progress
Haaretz Service and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/8/2009
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Sunday fired a Grad rocket at the southern city of Ashkelon, as a deal for an Israeli-Hamas truce in the coastal territory was taking form. The rocket attack on the southern town caused neither casualties nor damage. Earlier Sunday, a Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. The Israel Defense Forces said one car was set ablaze and several others were damaged by shrapnel. No injuries were reported. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack. Militants have sporadically fired rockets into Israel since a cease-fire ended Israel’s three-week offensive against Hamas in Gaza on Jan. 18. They also killed one IDF soldier in a border bombing attack. IDF troops have killed three Palestinians in border shootings. more.. e-mail
Israeli sources: Homemade shells fired from Gaza into Israel
Rami Almeghari&Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/8/2009
Israeli online daily Haaretz reported early on Sunday that a Palestinian homemade shell was fired from Gaza into the southern Israeli area of Naqqab. The Israeli Army stated that the shell caused set a car ablaze and slightly damaged other cars in and around where the shell landed. In the aftermath of the three-week-long Israeli Army attacks on the Gaza Strip, both the Israeli Army and Gaza-based resistance factions traded fire, despite a temporary ceasefire deal. The Israeli Army killed three Palestinians during recent attacks on the region. [end]
Gunman opens fire at Al-Hayat Al-Jadida newspaper offices in Ramallah
Ma’an News Agency 2/8/2009
Ramallah – Ma’an – Offices of the Palestinian daily newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida came under fire for the second time in six weeks on Saturday night. Sources at the newspaper office reported no casualties. Fifteen minutes after midnight an unidentified gunman opened fire at the windows of the office where editing director Bashar Barmawi’s office is, an Al-Hayat Al-Jadida journalist in the office at the time told Ma’an. Barmawi was not in the room at the time. The journalist noted that the fire originated from the same direction as in the previous incident. The front side of the building faces directly towards the Israeli settlement Psaggot, though there is a large open area between the edge of the suburb and the boundaries of the settlement. Palestinian police arrived on the scene and began investigations. The paper is based in a Ramallah suburb, and is the official news source for the Palestinian National Authority. [end]
Israel launches air strikes on Gaza
Middle East Online 2/7/2009
GAZA CITY - Israel launched air strikes in Gaza late Friday, an Israeli military spokesman said. "Our planes attacked four tunnels that were dug under the border with Egypt and used for weapons smuggling," the spokesman said. "An arms depot was also targeted and the explosives that were stocked there exploded," he said. Palestinian security forces and witnesses earlier said that Israeli planes had launched raids on targets in the Rafah sector, near the border with Egypt, without causing injuries. Meanwhile, UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday demanded that Hamas immediately release the UN aid supplies it seized in the Gaza Strip. "The Secretary General demands that Hamas immediately release the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) consignment of humanitarian goods it seized today, in the second such incident this week," his spokeswoman Michele Montas said in a statement. more.. e-mail
Aqsa foundation: The IAA digs new tunnel south of the Aqsa Mosque
Palestinian Information Center 2/7/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage revealed that the Israel antiquities authority (IAA) backed and financed by the right-wing Elad settlement organization started to dig a new tunnel located on the left of the mosque of Silwan neighborhood, south of the Aqsa Mosque. According to the foundation, the tunnel is part of a network of tunnels being dug in Silwan neighborhood throughout hundreds of meters reaching the southwestern corner of the Aqsa Mosque. The new excavations threaten the Silwan mosque and the nearby houses. The foundation said that the IAA is working quickly on this tunnel, where it increased manpower and the working days per week from five to six days. Israeli underground excavations had led an UNRWA school in occupied Jerusalem to partially collapse in Silwan this week and parts of nearby homes to crumble. more.. e-mail
IOF soldiers bulldoze agriculture lands in southern Gaza
Palestinian Information Center 2/7/2009
KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces advanced into Fakhari area east of Khan Younis district, to the south of Gaza Strip, at an early hour on Saturday amidst indiscriminate shooting. PIC reporter said that a number of IOF tanks and bulldozers advanced hundreds of meters in the area and bulldozed Palestinian cultivated lands. IOF troops in the West Bank kidnapped at dawn Saturday five Palestinian young men during incursions in a number of villages in the Nablus district. Other IOF units roamed the streets of Jenin villages but without any arrests made although tension is running high in those villages after the IOF claimed aborting a human bombing operation that was being planned by Palestinian resistance in Jenin to coincide with the Israeli general elections scheduled next Tuesday. more.. e-mail
Israeli forces arrest six in Hebron as clashes break out
Ma’an News Agency 2/7/2009
Hebron – Ma’an- Israeli forces arrested six near Hebron when confrontations erupted in the area of Ras Al-Arud on SaturdayLocal sources told Ma’an that “a group of young men and children confronted the invading forces and threw stones. The soldiers responded by firing live bullets. ” No injuries were reported. The sources added that Israeli soldiers arrested four minors, all from the town of Sa’ir they were identified as Mumamad Idris Al-Mutawer, Sha’lan Zaradat, Wahid Nawaf Jaradat, 17, Mohamad Sa’eed Jarada, 15, Mohammad Ibrahim A’lam Jaradat, 15, and Murad Hani Al-Mutwer, 17. All six were taken to an unknown location. [end]
Israeli forces provoke clashes; detain one in northern West Bank
Ma’an News Agency 2/7/2009
Salfit – Ma’an – Israeli forces arrested a young man from the northern West Bank village of Azmut on Sunday. Provocative Israeli incursions into the village increased recently, local sources said, and tension has been high between troops and villagers. Dozens accused Israeli patrols of deliberately provoking youth during their drives through the area. Sources identified the young man taken as 19-year-old Mahmoud Amir. He was handcuffed and taken to unknown direction. [end]
Israeli army arrests four young men from Nablus village
Ma’an News Agency 2/7/2009
Nablus – Ma’an - Israeli forces invaded the village of Beit Furik east of Nablus and arrested four Palestinian youth on Saturday. Local sources told Ma’an that three of the young men were from the Khatatiyah family, and the third from the Nasasreh family. Forces invaded and ransacked their homes. The youth were identified as Wael, Ahmad and Hamada Khatatiyah and Remah Nasasreh. [end]
’First’ Palestinian shells fired since ceasefire - after 3 weeks of truce violations by Israel
Saed Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/8/2009
Israeli sources report that three homemade rockets hit the Negev, in southern Israel, late this week (one on Wednesday and 2 on Friday), causing no injuries and minimal damage. The Palestinian shells were fired after multiple warnings by Hamas that Israeli forces must stop their daily violations of the ceasefire, in which 5 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 50 injured. The ceasefire violations by Israel include the following:* Israeli forces killed a Palestinian farmer in Khuza’a east of Khan Yunis on Jan 18 * Israeli forces killed a Palestinian farmer east of Jabalia on Jan 20* Israeli naval gunboats shelled the Gaza coast line, causing damage to civilian structures on Jan 21 * Israeli troops shot and injured a child east of Gaza City on Jan 22* Israeli gunboat fire injured 4-7 Palestinian fishermen on Jan 22 * Israeli shelling set a Palestinian house. . . [A brief review finds three reported post-ceasefire rocket launches prior to those mentioned in this story - Ed. ] more.. e-mail
IOF troops escalate attacks, launch air raids on Rafah
Palestinian Information Center 2/7/2009
RAFAH, (PIC)-- Israeli warplanes launched a series of air raids on the border strip between the Gaza Strip and Egypt at midnight Friday wounding three citizens and inflicting big damage to a number of buildings in Rafah. Security and local sources told the PIC reporter that Israeli occupation forces used Apache gunships and F-16 warplanes in the raids that fired 15 missiles at the Palestinian-Egyptian borders at the pretext of blasting tunnels in a new escalation of IOF attacks on the Strip. The sources noted that two missiles fell in an open area in Rafah city wounding three citizens. They noted that a group of fighters escaped unharmed after two missiles targeted them east of Rafah. The IOF command claimed that the raids aimed at blasting four tunnels that were used for smuggling and for storing Hamas combat means, and added that the raids were also in reprisal to the firing of two homemade missiles from Gaza at Israeli targets. more.. e-mail
Settlement Expansion Cutting Into Peace
Daan Bauwens, Inter Press Service 2/8/2009
TEL AVIV, Feb 6(IPS) - A secret government database revealed last week the real extent of settlement construction on the West Bank. In violation of the Road Map to peace agreed with the U. S. , Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, it turned out, agreed to the construction of another settlement on the West Bank. Many now question how devoted Israeli leaders really are to the idea of achieving peace. A comprehensive official database on settler activity, compiled systematically by order of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, shows that in 75 percent of the West Bank settlements, construction has been carried out without the permits that were issued, or contrary to them. Furthermore, the database reveals that in more than 30 settlements, extensive construction of roads, schools, synagogues and even police stations was carried out on private land belonging to Palestinian residents. more.. e-mail
Qabalan says more development needed in south
Daily Star 2/7/2009
BEIRUT: Vice-president of the Higher Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan asked if Lebanon was done with Israel to close down the Council of the South. Qabalan said the Council has carried out many beneficial projects since its inception in 1970. "The Council has served the south and its people, it built schools, hospitals and drinking wells," he said. "I call on [Parliament Speaker) Nabih Berri to carry his pickax and head to the south and build more dams and work on increasing the level of Litani waters," he said, in reference to the work that remains to be done concerning the Litani River. "We must build in more public shelters, to protect the people from [Israeli attacks], especially these days when Israel continues to threaten us of destroying our homes," he said. "We must also ask Iran to build villages and workshops underground, for we are the ones that pay the price of every Zionist aggression. . . " more.. e-mail
Cluster bomb wounds volunteer de-miner
Daily Star 2/7/2009
BEIRUT: A volunteer in the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) identified as Mustafa Kourani was injured due to the explosion of a cluster bomb on Friday in Yahmor al-Shqif area in Nabatiyeh. Kourani was transferred to Nabatiyeh Government Hospital. [end]
Jayyous under attack this week: olive trees destroyed, demonstrators shot
Mohammad Othman, Palestine News Network 2/6/2009
Jayyous - Since Thursday evening the village of Jayyous has been the site of intense repression at the hand of Israeli forces who have been firing tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets and live ammunition at villagers. On Friday afternoon there were between 20 and 30 military jeeps in the Qalqilia area village that is encircled by the Wall. Soldiers have been firing for nearly 24 hours straight. Three groups of soldiers forced their way into three houses near the south gate of the village, where the heaviest shooting is occurring. They have overtaken the rooftops as sniper towers to fire into the crowds of demonstrators and stone-throwers. Israeli soldiers shot a 22 year old at close range with live bullets. After shooting the man the soldiers detained him for an hour and a half. All medical personnel and his family were prevented from reaching him. more.. e-mail
IAF strikes in Gaza
Reuters, YNetNews 2/6/2009
Air Force bombs tunnels near Rafah after two rockets were fired at Israel Friday morning -The Air Force (IAF) fired several missiles in the southern part of the Gaza Strip on Friday, causing no injuries, Hamas and residents said. Residents said a series of air strikes targeted open areas near the town of Rafah and smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the air strikes but gave no further details. Israel warned this week that it would respond "disproportionately" to any occasion of fire from Gaza. Israel and Hamas declared separate ceasefires on Jan. 18, ending a 22-day Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. more.. e-mail
Israeli warships injure fisherman off southern Gaza coast
Ma’an News Agency 2/6/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – A Palestinian fisherman was injured as Israeli naval boats opened fire on the man’s craft Palestinian medical sources said on Friday. The man was in the Al-Mawasi area off the coast of southern Gaza, and was transferred first to the Rafah Hospital, then on to Khan Younis for treatment. Israeli ships are deployed off Gaza shores and have shot at civilian areas on land and at sea for months before, during and following the Gaza war. [end]
One shot, several trees uprooted during Jayyous demonstration
Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Stop The Wall 2/6/2009
Today’s demonstration in Jayyous was met by intensified force, with soldiers quickly invading the village and firing live ammunition. A huge number of soldiers occupied the village, bringing with them a bulldozer that was used to destroy trees and farmland. Clashes have lasted into the evening, and are ongoing in separate parts of the village. Several people have been wounded, one by live bullets. The clashes began after the midday prayer, when some 200 youth led a demonstration from the centre of the village to the south gate. As they approached the gate chanting slogans and waving flags, Occupation forces began firing tear gas and rubber bullets. The situation escalated quickly, as youth responded by throwing stones, and soldiers began firing live bullets. A large contingent of soldiers, eyewitnesses counted some 20 jeeps, then invaded the village. -- See also: Indefinite curfew imposed on Jayyous more.. e-mail
Israeli army arrests six in northern West Bank Friday morning; confiscates fertilizer
Ma’an News Agency 2/6/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – The Israeli army arrested four men from Jenin, Qabatiya and Kafr Dan village, and another two from the village of Al-Liban Ash-Sahrqiyah in the northern West Bank Friday morning. Troops also confiscated agricultural materials from Dir Abu Da’if. The men were taken to an unknown location for questioning. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers invaded Jenin, broke into several homes and arrested Muhammad Khaled A’rqawi. Troops south of the city invaded Qabatiya north of Jenin and arrested Dhafer Jamal Abu Zeid and A’wni A’dnan Ikmeil, again after breaking into several homes. Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces forced residents out of their homes for several hours, fired sound bombs and live artillery. To the east Israeli forces then invaded Kfar Dan and arrested Muhammad Mazen A’bed after breaking into his family home and ransacking its contents. more.. e-mail
Jenin area still reeling from assassination is hit again
Ali Samoudi, Palestine News Network 2/6/2009
PNN exclusive -- Kafr Dan and Qabatiya villages were besieged today. The northern West Bank was the scene of a targeted assassination yesterday followed by an afternoon funeral. The town of Qabatiya is in the midst of observing a three day open house for mourning. On Friday the assaults continued with Israeli forces arresting six Palestinians, including lawyers. Eyewitnesses report large contingents in both Kafr Dan and Qabatiya with several homes being broken into. Young men were blindfolded and dragged away. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. Lawyer Mohamed Khalid Al Aqrqawi was among those arrested. His mother told PNN that soldiers broke into their home and rounded up the family. They were forced into a small space while soldiers ransacked their belongings, taking a computer and a mobile phone. more.. e-mail
Israeli air strikes hit Gaza
Al Jazeera 2/7/2009
Israel has launched several air raids against targets in southern Gaza near the border with Egypt, causing damages but no injuries, Palestinian security sources have said. The strikes targeted "open areas" near the town of Rafah and tunnels along the border with Egypt, residents said. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that the "Israeli air force intervened in the Gaza Strip," late on Friday. "Our planes attacked four tunnels that were dug under the border with Egypt and used for weapons smuggling," the spokesman told AFP news agency. "An arms depot was also targeted and the explosives that were stocked there exploded," he said. The raids came hours after Palestinian fighters fired two rockets at southern Israel without causing damage or victims, according to a military spokesman. Shalit talks failThe strikes also came after reports that indirect talks between. . . more.. e-mail
2 rockets hit south Israel
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/6/2009
Projectiles fired by Palestinians in north Gaza land in open areas in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, south of Ashkelon; no injuries, damage reported. Council head: Israel must take some sort of military or political action - A rocket fired from northern Gaza on Friday at around 9:30 am landed in an open area south of Ashkelon. No injuries or damage were reported. Earlier a Qassam landed within the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council’s limits, but caused no injury or damage. The rocket landed near a kibbutz in which not all of the houses have been fortified. Israel has made it clear that it would respond "disproportionately" to any rocket fire emanating from the Hamas-controlled territory. "Israel must take some sort of military or political action to resolve this issue," Council head Alon Schuster told Ynet after the attack, "but we’ve grown accustomed to this policy where nothing gets done. more.. e-mail
IOF says its troops killed Palestinian near Sofa crossing
Palestinian Information Center 2/6/2009
KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- The IOF has announced that its troops killed a Palestinian man near the Sofa crossing to the east of the southern Gaza Strip at a late hour Thursday night. An IOF spokesman said that the Palestinian man tried to hurl a hand grenade towards a group of IOF soldiers who fired at him killing him. Local sources told PIC correspondent that the heard intensive firing near the Abu Daqqah lagoon east of Khuza’a, but had no idea what was going on. The sources added that in the IOF troops continued random firing on Friday morning preventing local teams from searching of the body of the man who the IOF says its soldiers have killed. [end]
Two Gaza projectiles fired into Israel
Ma’an News Agency 2/6/2009
Bethlehem - Ma’an - Israeli sources said Palestinian militants fired two projectiles from the Gaza Strip Friday morning. The projectiles landed near what Israeli authorities described as a “communal farm,” which was not damaged, nor were any injuries reported. No armed groups had claimed responsibility for either attacks by late Friday morning. [end]
PLO report: '980 Palestinians, including 380 children, 108 women killed in January'
Saed Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/6/2009
A report published by the National and International Office of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) revealed that the Israeli army killed more than 980 Palestinians in January, including 380 women and 108 children. 3982 Palestinians were injured, including 2700 children and women. The report also includes information on Israeli violations in the West Bank. The report stated that the Israeli forces destroyed and shelled thousands of homes, while thousands of residents took shelter in UNRWA schools, yet the army shelled the schools, killed and wounded hundreds of civilians. According to the report, civilian casualties of Israel’s latest war constitute 85%, 40% of them were children and women. The army also killed 20 medics, 5 reporters and 120 elderly people. 500 of the 3982 wounded residents are in serious conditions, the report added. more.. e-mail
Leaked settlement data puts Israeli peace drive in doubt
Daan Bauwens, Inter Press Service, Daily Star 2/7/2009
TEL AVIV: A secret Israeli government database revealed last week the real extent of settlement construction in the Occupied West Bank. In violation of the "road map" to peace agreed with the US, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, it turned out, agreed to the construction of another settlement on the Occupied West Bank. Many now question how devoted Israeli leaders really are to the idea of achieving peace. A comprehensive official database on settler activity, compiled systematically by order of the Israeli Defense Ministry, shows that in 75 percent of the Occupied West Bank settlements, construction has been carried out without the permits that were issued, or contrary to them. Furthermore, the database reveals that in more than 30 settlements, extensive construction of roads, schools, synagogues and even police stations was carried out on private land belonging to Palestinian residents. -- See also: Secret database shows Israeli government to be active partner in settlement land grab more.. e-mail
Settlers bulldoze land, erect outpost in Nablus area village
Ma’an News Agency 2/5/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli settlers used bulldozers to destroy farmland in the West Bank village of Yasuf late on Wednesday before deploying mobile housing “caravans” that signal the creation of a new settlement outpost. Sources in the village said that dozens of settlers arrived in the Jabal An-Naqqar area of the village. The community is already occupied on its Western side by an existing settlement called Kfar Tappuah. The head of the local village council, Abdel Rahim Saleh, discussed the issue with the mayor of the nearby town of Salfit, Munir Al-Aboushi, and other officials in the area, in order to coordinate a response to the new outpost. Saleh said he is planning to work with human rights organizations to find a way to avoid the villagers losing their land. The Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din has asked the villagers to compile their land deeds in preparation. . . more.. e-mail
Detection of new tunnel in Al Aqsa compound threatens Silwan mosque and environs
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 2/5/2009
PNN exclusive -- The Elad Settlement group and the Israeli Antiquities Authority are moving ahead with excavations under the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Al Haram Ash Sharif. This is the type of digging that led a UNRWA school to partially collapse in Silwan this week and parts of 40 neighborhood houses to crumble over the past several. The threat to the character of East Jerusalem as the Israeli administration continues its stated program of ensuring a "Jewish majority. "The Silwan Mosque is south of Al Aqsa. Tunnels underneath the neighborhood are being dug throughout hundreds of meters reaching the southwestern corner of Al Aqsa. The Israelis sometimes deny the excavations while at others justify them by claiming that there may be a Jewish temple underneath the Muslim holy site. Digging a network of tunnels continues, the Al Aqsa Institution said today. more.. e-mail
NRB: Israel’s assassination of Islamic Jihad leader in West Bank call for escalation
Ma’an News Agency 2/5/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – The assassination of Al-Quds Brigades leader Ala Abu Ar-Rub in his home in the West Bank Wednesday night is a “clear message to abort all efforts towards truce between the Palestinian resistance factions and Israel,” said an NRB statement Thursday. The National Resistance Brigades Armed, the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) said “the killing of a Jihad leader in the West Bank city of Qabatiya…[gives factions] one option which is to respond directly, holding Israel responsible for any escalation that might take place in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. ”NRB maintained its stance that resistance factions have the right to respond to any assault or violation against Palestinians in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. “Israel has not stopped its assaults against the unarmed Palestinians” in Gaza, said NRB, and has not committed to its own terms. more.. e-mail
Settlers bulldoze Palestinian farm lands near Nablus
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/5/2009
On Thursday, a group of Israeli settlers bulldozed Palestinian owned farm lands, located near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Local farmers said that Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Tafoah, near the village of Yassof, south of Nablus, arrived at midday with a bulldozer and destroyed crops and trees that belong to the farmers. The farmers said that soldiers provided protection for the settlers and villagers added that this is not the first time they have been attacked like this. Settlers have increased their attacks since the beginning of this year, witnesses report. [end]
Secret database shows Israeli government to be active partner in settlement land grab
Mondoweiss 1/30/2009
Israel’s settlement database translated to English - Ha’aretz has busted open a huge story today: "Secret Israeli database reveals full extent of illegal settlement." The story outlines a database created by the Israeli defense establishment to gather: credible and accessible information at the ready to contend with legal actions brought by Palestinian residents, human rights organizations and leftist movements challenging the legality of construction in the settlements and the use of private lands to establish or expand them. The article adds, "the painstakingly amassed data was labeled political dynamite." Well the dynamite has exploded. There is much that can, and will, be said about this report. The initial take home message is that whenever you read or see a story where the Israeli government is presented as a counter balance to the "radical settler movement" you now know this is false. -- See also: English translation (PDF) more.. e-mail
Israeli forces detain five in Nablus area
Ma’an News Agency 2/5/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli forces seized five young Palestinians during raids in villages around the West Bank city of Nablus. Palestinian local sources told Ma’an’s correspondent in Nablus that Israeli forces raided Asira Al-Qibliya, south of Nablus and detained 18-year-old Mahmoud Mohammad Hassan Shihadah. In the village of Salim, east of the city, they detained Mohammad Abd An-Nayef Issa. In the village of Tell,. Local sources said Israeli troops invaded at 1am, detaining three young men: Mu’awiya Mohammad Zeidan,18, Arabi Ashraf As-Seifi,19 and Issam Issa Ramadan,18. [end]
Israeli Army kidnaps eight Palestinians from a village near Nablus
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/5/2009
The Israeli military kidnapped eight Palestinian civilians during an attack that targeted the village of Taal, located near the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday morning. Villagers said that at lest five Israeli armored vehicles stormed the village before troops searched and ransacked a number of homes before kidnapping eight men, and taking them to an unknown location. Among those kidnapped where Assem Ramadan, age 23, Moa’wiah Zidan, age 18, Adi Ramadan, age 19 and Ahmad Wahabi, age 19. [end]
Soldiers shoot Palestinian with grenade
Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 2/5/2009
IDF patrol shoots Palestinian approaching border fence with hand grenade after firing warning shots -IDF forces prevented an attack by a Palestinian man Thursday by firing shots that apparently killed the assailant. The Palestinian approached the border fence in southern Gaza and pulled out a hand grenade, which exploded when the troops fired at him. At around 9 pm the man was spotted near the Sufa crossing, and Golani Brigade troops were alerted. They entered the Palestinian territory and called to the man to halt, but the latter pulled a grenade from his bag. The IDF stated that the soldiers first fired warning shots in the man’s direction, but he continued his approach until they were forced to shoot him. He was apparently killed by the explosion of the grenade he was holding. The IDF stated that despite the low profile character of the incident,. . . more.. e-mail
Soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man near the Gaza-Israel border
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/5/2009
Israeli military sources reported on Thursday evening that a Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers near the Gaza-Israeli border. The army claimed that the man was armed and tried to throw a grenade at the soldiers. The army said that the grenade exploded in near the Palestinian man due to soldiers’ gunfire. The army also briefly invaded the area where the man came from and searched it, Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported. Israeli Ynet News reported that the Palestinian man was shot and killed when he approached the border. According to the Ynet, the man approached the Sufa Crossing before the soldiers opened fire at him, and that he was shot after he pulled a grenade and ignored orders to stop. Army sources reported that the army needs to remain on high alert across the borders with Gaza, and that soldiers were instructed "treat any incident in which a. . . more.. e-mail
IDF troops kill Palestinian militant near Gaza border
Anshel Pfeffer, Ha’aretz 2/6/2009
Israel Defense Forces soldiers on Thursday evening killed a Palestinian militant who approached the Gaza-Israel border and drew a grenade. The grenade subsequently exploded as a result of the soldiers’ gunfire, killing the militant. There were no casualties among the troops, who were from the Golani infantry brigade. The incident took place near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha. The troops later searched the area from which the militant had come, Army Radio said, then returned to Israeli territory. The incident came a few hours after senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad headed to Cairo to meet with Egyptian mediators over negotiations for a truce with Hamas in Gaza. The cease-fire that ended Israel’s 22-day offensive against Hamas in the coastal territory two weeks ago has been ruptured by intermittent fighting. more.. e-mail
Islamic Jihad vows revenge for militant leader killed by Israel in Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/5/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Islamic Jihad has vowed to respond swiftly to the killing of one the leaders of its’ military wing in the West Bank on Thursday. Scores of Palestinians turned out for the funeral of Ala Ad-Din Abu Ar-Roub, a leader of Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades in the town of Qabatiya, near Jenin. Other national and Islamic forces participated in the funeral march, calling for a decisive and violent response to the killing. The funeral left Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin. Abu Ar-Roub was later burried in Qabatiya. Israeli special forces killed Abu Ar-Roub, an Islamic Jihad leader in his home on Thursday morning in what they claim was an arrest raid gone awry. According to witnesses, Israeli forces surrounded his house while Ar-Roub was preparing to leave at 5:30am. Witnesses said Israeli forces stormed the house, shot Ar-Roub and then seized the body, keeping it away from his family, who attempted to resuscitate him. more.. e-mail
Israeli commandos assassinate Islamic Jihad commander
Palestinian Information Center 2/5/2009
JENIN, (PIC)-- Special units of the IOF troops have succeeded in assassinating commander of the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, Ala Abul Rub in Kabatia town at dawn Thursday after Abbas’s security forces disappeared from the village. Local sources confirmed to the PIC that big numbers of IOF troops infiltrated into the village, south of Jenin city, and surrounded house of Abul Rub, 23, after he refused to surrender. Fierce clashes between the Palestinian fighter and the invading IOF troops took place at the house of Abul Rub that led to his martyrdom after IOF troops peppered his body with bullets, the sources added. Body of the Palestinian martyr was seized by the IOF troops that wreaked havoc in the house and humiliated family of the martyr before turning over the body to the Palestinian Red Crescent and retreated from the area amidst intensive machinegun fire. more.. e-mail
Israeli troops assassinate a Palestinian resistance fighter near Jenin
Saed Bannoura & Ali Samoudi & PNN, International Middle East Media Center News 2/5/2009
Early Thursday morning, Israeli forces assassinated 23 year old Aladdin Issam Abu Al Rub. Al Rub was a local leader of the al-Quds brigades, the armed resistance wing of the Islamic Jihad. Before dawn, Israeli Special Forces invaded the southwestern Jenin town of Qabatiya. It was 4:30 am in the northern West Bank. Al Rub’s father Issam describes awaking to the sound of an explosion in the house. " There were a number of soldiers inside with many of them pushing into the room where Aladdin’ and two of his brothers were sleeping. " The father of the 23 year old says that Israeli soldiers fired directly into the bed without a question. The lower side of the wall in Aladdin’s bedroom that he shared with his brothers is blanketted with bullet holes. The mattress on the floor is splattered with blood. His brother Mohammad said, "what happened was horrible. more.. e-mail
Israeli army kills Palestinian in West Bank
Middle East Online 2/5/2009
JERUSALEM - A Palestinian activist was killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank early Thursday, the Palestinian security services said. Ala Abu Al-Rub, 21, a member of Islamic Jihad’s armed wing the Al Qods Brigades, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers at his home at Qabatiya near Jenin in the north of the West Bank, they said. Tel Aviv did not confirm or deny the report. UN: Gaza war left 600,000 tonnes of rubble - The 22-day Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip which caused massive destruction of public and private buildings left an estimated 600,000 tonnes of concrete rubble, a UN agency said on Wednesday. An initial survey estimates that over 14,000 homes, 68 government buildings and 31 structures used by non governmental groups were totally or partially damaged, the UN Development Programme said in a statement. more.. e-mail
Israeli military jeep damaged in Bil’in
Ma’an News Agency 2/5/2009
Bethlehem - Ma’an - An Israeli military force stormed the West Bank village of Bil’in Wednesday night and set up checkpoints at all transit points into the area. Forces searched areas between the village and its neighboring Kufrn’am, and were attacked by local youth who threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the invading vehicles. One militarized jeep was set ablaze and the convoy halted to assist the soldiers in the vehicle. Soldiers formed an attack point near the convoy and fired gas grenades and rubber bullets at the youth, who continued throwing stones. The forces withdrew and took the damaged jeep with them. [end]
Brothers indicted for 2000 attack on Border Guard officers
Aviad Glickman, YNetNews 2/5/2009
Two residents of east Jerusalem arrested during anti-Gaza op rally confess to planting explosives which injured three officers eight years ago - Two brothers from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan were indicted for the attempted murder of security officers eight years of. According to Thursday’s indictment, filed with the Jerusalem District Court, the two are responsible for a November 2000 attack which took place near the Old City’s Lions Gate, in which three Border Guard officers were injured. The prosecution alleged that Basel Abu Tiya (32) and Yusuf Abu Tiya (30) planted explosives at the entryway to the Muslim cemetery adjacent to the Lions Gate, where they knew security forces patrolled on a regular basis. According to the case file Basel staked out the premises and studied the forces’ routine. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 020509
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/5/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 4 m 00s || 3. 66 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center www. imemc. org, for Thursday, February 5th, 2009. The Israeli army kills a Palestinian fighter in the West Bank and attacks an aid ship near Gaza, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Early on Thursday morning Israeli forces assassinated 23 year old Aladdin Issam Abu Al Rub from Qabatiya town near the northern West Bank city of. Jenin. Al Rub was a local leader of the Al Quds brigades, the armed resistance wing of Islamic Jihad. The military said that Aladdin was killed during an exchange of gunfire with Special Forces troops. The army added that he had a gun and an explosive belt. His brother Mohammad said, that the army stormed the house when all the family was asleep and shot Aladdin while he was still sleeping. more.. e-mail
14,000 homes, 68 government buildings, 31 NGOs destroyed leaving 600,000 tons of rubble in Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/5/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – At least 600,000 tons of rubble will need to be cleared before Gaza can be reconstructed, estimated UNDP in a report released Wednesday. The document estimated that 14,000 homes, totaling 2. 6 percent of all homes were completely destroyed and 20 percent have sustained light to heavy damage from the fighting. Also hit were 68 government buildings and 31 NGO complexes or buildings were completely or partially destroyed. The UNDP called removing the rubble “an ultimate priority,” and noted that the program is hoping for 25 million US dollars will be allocated to removing the rubble. The program estimated that the project will provide 200,000 days of work for the unemployed in Gaza. Dangerous workThe program also noted that among the debris are unexploded ordinances, and said an immediate identification and safe removal program must begin as soon as possible. more.. e-mail
Israeli army says shelling of house where girls died was ’reasonable’
Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem, The Guardian 2/5/2009
Israel’s military last night admitted that one of its tanks killed three girls at their home in Gaza during last month’s war in a case that shocked the Israeli public, but said the shelling was "reasonable. " The Israeli military said two shells had hit the house of a Palestinian doctor, Izz el-Deen Abu el-Eish, on 16 January, killing his daughters. Moments after their death the Hebrew-speaking gynaecologist was interviewed by mobile phone live on an Israeli television channel, screaming with grief in an extraordinary scene. For most Israelis it was the first time they had seen such a striking case of civilian deaths in the war, even though hundreds of the 1,300 Palestinian dead were believed to be civilians. The Channel 10 television correspondent who interviewed el-Eish arranged for the military to rush other injured members of the family to hospital in Israel for treatment, where they remain today. more.. e-mail
IDF admits ’mistake’ killed three daughters, niece of Palestinian doctor
Amos Harel and Anshel Pfeffer, Ha’aretz 2/5/2009
The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged yesterday that the three daughters and a niece of Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish were killed by army fire in an incident that had targeted Hamas spotters on the upper levels of the building where the family lived. Dr. Abu al-Aish, who received a copy of the IDF report, told Haaretz last night that "I had always known the truth about what happened. " Contrary to the initial IDF response that shots had been fired from the home of the doctor, and to rumors on the Internet that an arms cache had been found there, an army investigation at division level showed otherwise. According to the army investigation, during the fighting in the town of Saja’iyeh, east of Gaza City, a Golani Brigade force came under fire from snipers and mortar firing near the Abu al-Aish home. more.. e-mail
Youths assault Arab in Tiberias
Sharon Roffe-Ofir, YNetNews 2/5/2009
’They said they were going to pick a fight,’ says boy whose friends ganged up on 20yr old on boardwalk -Seven youths suspected of having attacked an Arab youth were indicted Thursday on charges of aggravated assault. Three others were released from custody. One of the boys released, a 13-year old on whom not enough evidence had been found to file charges, told Ynet he had asked his friends to stop hitting the youth. He also claimed a number of other assailants had escaped arrest. The youths were arrested last Monday on suspicion that they had ganged up on 20-year old Mohammad Mansur, of Majd al-Krum, wounding him severely. Police claimed the attack had been racially motivated. "The boys just gathered and went out in an orderly fashion to find an Arab victim," an officer familiar with the case said. more.. e-mail
LEBANON: Funding struggle slowing cluster bomb clearance in south
Hugh Macleod/IRIN, IRIN - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2/5/2009
BEIRUT, 5 February 2009 (IRIN) - Waning international interest and funding is harming efforts to rid southern Lebanon of its hundreds of thousands of remaining cluster bomblets, posing a continuing threat to farmers and children, according to mine clearance organisations. Israel dropped a large number of cluster bombs on southern Lebanon during the July 2006 war with the Shia guerrilla and political group Hezbollah. Each bomb can release hundreds of individual bomblets, and about a quarter failed to explode on impact, effectively becoming landmines that can kill or maim. "For almost all the organisations, it’s a continuous struggle to generate enough interest and funding to keep the teams on the ground working, which obviously has an impact on the amount of cluster bombs [bomblets] they can clear," said Tekimiti Gilbert, the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre’s (UNMACC) acting programme manager. more.. e-mail
VIDEO - WATCH: British Mandate-era arms cache found in Hod Hasharon synagogue
Noa Kocharek and Yuval Goren, Ha’aretz 2/6/2009
Two Israeli curators on Thursday stumled upon an arms cache dating back to the British Mandate at a Synagogue in Hod Hasharon. The weapons, which included grenades and bullet casings, were apparently stored in the building by the Hagannah Jewish militia. Simcha Klein and Aviva Even-Hen, curators of the museum dedicated to the history of Hod Hasharon, found the arms while they were tidying rooms in the synagogue, which was crammed full of documents, pictures and old maps dating back to the beginning of the Zionist enterprise. "While searching the rooms, we came across one small tin box that contained grenades, and another that contained dozens of bullet casings," Klein said. "We then called the police, and sappers came and removed the weapons from the building. " more.. e-mail
Across West Bank, villages hit with confiscation orders
Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Stop The Wall 2/4/2009
During the month of January, Palestinian villages across the West Bank were hit with a wave of confiscation orders. In the Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron districts, Occupation forces closed or confiscated land for the construction of new segments of the Wall or military infrastructure. Collectively, thousands of dunums have been confiscated, and thousands more will be isolated. In the Jerusalem district, 506 dunums of land were confiscated from the village of Abu Dis and the areas of Abu Wadi Hindi and al-Khan al-Ahmar. A new segment of the Wall will be constructed on Abu Dis and al-Khan al-Ahmar lands, running east of Abu Dis and enclosing Ma’ale Adummim, Qedar and the Mishor Adumim factory bloc. The route of the Wall in the Abu Dis area will isolate tens of thousands of dunums. In addition to the confiscation of land, a 200 strong Jahalin Bedouin community lives only meters from Qedar in Wadi Abu Hindi and will either be isolated or expelled. more.. e-mail
Israel: Tuesday’s airstrikes hit five tunnels, 'Hamas outpost'
Ma’an News Agency 2/4/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Three airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday were retaliatory, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement sent to Ma’an. “In response to the barrage of Qassam rockets, mortar shells, and Grad missiles fired at Israel in recent days, the Israel Air Force attacked a number of targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “The targets included five smuggling tunnels, a rocket launching site and a Hamas outpost,” it added, charging Hamas with “full responsibility” for any attacks originating in Gaza. [end]
Palestinian youth from Gaza dies of wounds sustained in last month’s Israeli offensive
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/4/2009
A Palestinian youth from Gaza was reported dead on Wednesday at an Eygptian hospital after succumbing to wounds he sustained during Israe’sl attacks on Gaza last month. The Palestinian Embassy in Egypt reported that Mithqal Al Rabee, age 23, was moved to Egypt for treatment earlier this week, adding that he is the 31st Palestinian to die in Egyptian hospitals after sustaining wounds in the latest Israeli attacks ’s "Operation Cast Lead". Israel embarked on its latest full-scale military operation on December 27th, 2008, where for 22 days military sea, air and ground forces shelled homes, schools, UN centers, mosques, and Media Agencies, killing nearly 1,341 Palestinians and wounding more than 5,500. more.. e-mail
Israelis abduct five Palestinians from Ramallah-area village
Ma’an News Agency 2/4/2009
Ramallah – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers seized five Palestinians from a village near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday morning. Witnesses told Ma’an that Israeli forces stormed Bil’in village at dawn, ransacking a number of homes before abducting Haytham Abu Rahmah, his brother Ali, Husam Hamad, Qasim Hamad and Fahd Al-Khatib. They were taken to an undisclosed location. On Tuesday, Israel seized at least seven Palestinians from Bethlehem, Jenin and Nablus. [end]
Israeli kidnaps five young men from the village of Bil’in near Ramallah
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/4/2009
Five young men from the village of Bil’in located near the central West Bank city of Ramallah were kidnapped on Wednesday by the Israeli military. Troops stormed the village then raided several houses and searched them. During the search troops took five men away, including: the brothers, Ali and Haitham Hamdan Abu Rahma, and Hosam Mohamed Hamad, Qasim Hassan Hamad, Fahad Jalal Al-Khatib, and they took the detainees to unknown place. Since nearly four years, Bil’in village is the scene of weekly nonviolent protest aginest the Israeli illegal wall being built in the West Bank [end]
Palestinian teenager arrested during clashes with Israeli soldiers near Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/4/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – One Palestinian youth was arrested on Wednesday during clashes with Israeli troops in the village of Bartha’a, near the West Bank city of Jenin. According to Tawfiq Qabha a member of the local municipal council, stone-throwing youths confronted Israeli soldiers who had invaded the town, blocking traffic in and out. Specifically, groups of Palestinians with Israeli citizenship were barred from the town. Qabha said that Israeli opened fire on the demonstrators with bullets and tear gas. The clashes were concentrated near a local industrial area. He said that Ziyad Qabha was arrested. [end]
IDF strikes Hamas targets after Grad hits Ashkelon
Yanir Yagna and Avi Issacharoff, Ha’aretz 2/5/2009
The Israel Defense Forces hit Hamas positions throughout the Gaza Strip yesterday, after a Grad rocket fired by Gaza militants struck downtown Ashkelon yesterday morning. Meanwhile, Hamas representatives and Egyptian officials continued discussing a cease-fire with Israel in Cairo. No Palestinians were killed in the IDF attacks, which included Israel Air Force strikes on Hamas positions in Beit Lahiya and Khan Yunis, and on tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border at Rafah. Three people were treated for shock after the Grad strike in Ashkelon, which damaged cars in the area. "Hamas is playing with fire, and if there is an escalation now, Hamas has no one to blame but itself," said Mark Regev, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s spokesman. The Grad that struck Ashkelon was the first such rocket to be fired at the city since a cease-fire ended Israel’s 22-day offensive in Gaza last month. more.. e-mail
Gaza militants fire mortar shell at western Negev
Yanir Yagna, Ha’aretz 2/4/2009
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday launched a mortar shell at southern Israel, which exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council. There were no casualties reported in the incident, which came a day after Gaza militants fired the first Grad rocket at Israel since the end of the Israel Defense Forces’ 22-day offensive against the Hamas-ruled coastal territory. Three people were treated for shock after the attack, which also caused damage to property. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the IDF to launch reprisal attacks against Hamas targets following the Tuesday morning attack. Olmert vowed the "smallest provocation would bring the harshest reaction" until the rocket fire on Israel ceased. Hours later, an Israel Air Force aircraft bombed smuggling tunnels connecting Gaza with Egypt, as well as Hamas training position in the central strip. There were no casualties in those incidents. more.. e-mail
Army admits to killing family members of a Palestinian physician in Gaza
Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/4/2009
The Israeli army admitted on Wednesday that three of the daughters of Dr. Abu Ammash, and his niece, were killed by an artillery shell fired by the soldiers during the latest war on Gaza. The Doctor, Iz Ed-Deen Yaish, works at an Israeli hospital. The Israeli army had no choice but to admit to the crime since it occurred while the Doctor was in a live interview with the Israeli TV -- Channel 2. The Israeli army claimed that Palestinian sharpshooters opened fire at troops invading the area and that the soldiers fired a shell at a home believed to be used as a surveillance point by Palestinian fighters. The army also claimed that military helicopters dropped leaflets in the area ordering the residents to leave their homes. The slain family members of the Gazan Doctor were identified as his three daughters, Bissam, 20, Mayar, 15, and Aya, 14, in addition to his niece Nour. more.. e-mail
Israel-Hamas War Deals Blow to Schools in Gaza
Karin Laub, MIFTAH 2/4/2009
The jewel of Gaza’s bare-bones education system — a U. S. -style school on lush grounds overlooking the Mediterranean — is now a mound of broken concrete. The territory’s only laboratory for genetic testing, at a Gaza university, lies in ruins. With 37 primary and secondary schools destroyed or damaged by air strikes, and 18 others still serving as refugee shelters, learning in Gaza has become even more of a struggle. Israel says the attacks on schools struck militants and a weapons lab during its three-week war against Hamas. Gaza educators say Israel hasn’t provided proof to back up its claims, adding the strikes on some of its best educational institutions set back efforts to develop the impoverished territory. Even before the offensive, overcrowding had forced most of Gaza’s 380 primary and secondary schools to run morning and afternoon shifts of no more than four hours each to accommodate 450,000 students. more.. e-mail
1,373rd victim of Israel’s assault on Gaza succumbs to wounds
Ma’an News Agency 2/4/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Palestinian medical sources reported that 23-year-old Mithqal Jamal Ata Ar-Rabi died on Wednesday morning of injuries sustained during Israel’s assault on Gaza. He died at an Egyptian hospital, where hundreds of injured Palestinians have been taken during and after the three-week onslaught. Mu’awiyyah Hassanein, head of the de facto Health Ministry’s Ambulance and Emergency Services Department, told Ma’an that Ar-Rabi’s body will be returned sometime on Wednesday. His death brings the overall toll of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip since 27 December to 1,373. Some 5,000 others were injured, as well. Hassanein added that about 30 Palestinian patients have been transferred through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on a daily basis, as well as other Arab and European hospitals. On Thursday, Egypt will close the Rafah crossing point into Gaza, according to a de facto government spokesperson. more.. e-mail
PRC: Fighters ready to oppose any attack on Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/4/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – The armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades said on Wednesday that they are prepared to oppose Israeli attacks on Gaza ‘at any time. ’Abu Mujahid, the spokesman for the Brigades, made this pronouncement on the one-year anniversary of one of the movement’s leaders named Abu Musa’ed. Abu Mujahid said that right of Palestinians to resist occupation “flows from the blood of the martyrs. ”He pointed out that throughout Israel was unable during its three-week offensive on the Gaza Strip, to stop Palestinians from firing homemade rockets into Israel. [end]
Palestine Today 020409
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/4/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 4 m 00s ||3. 66 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center www. imemc. org, for Wednesday, February 4th, 2009. Israel destroys homes in Jerusalem while a Palestinian in Gaza is reported dead due to wounds sustained by earlier military attacks, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast A Palestinian youth from Gaza was reported dead on Wednesday at an Egyptian hospital after succumbing to wounds he sustained during Israel’s attacks on Gaza last month. The Palestinian Embassy in Egypt reported that Mithqal Al Rabee, 23, was moved to Egypt for treatment earlier this week, adding that he is the 31st Palestinian to die in Egyptian hospitals. Israel embarked on its latest full-scale military operation on December 27th, 2008. more.. e-mail
Six injured by Israeli troop and settler attack on villagers in Sa’er, near Hebron
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/3/2009
Six Palestinian farmers where injured on Tuesday midday during an attack by Israeli troops and settlers in the village of Sa’er, located near the southern West Bank city of Hebron. Witnesses said that Israeli settlers protected by Israeli troops came to the village and began uprooting olive trees; when farmers tried to protect their trees, soldiers attacked them along with settlers, injuring six of them. Medical sources said that the six sustained light wounds and were moved to the Hebron hospital for treatment. Nayef Jaradat, from Sa’er, told reporters that the Israeli Army, along with settlers, arrived to the land with claims that the land belongs to the Israeli government, and managed to uproot at least 100 olive trees, and also demolished animal shades and farming structures. Jaradat added that the villagers have ownership papers that date back to the time of the Ottoman Empire. more.. e-mail
Israel attacks south Gaza tunnels
Al Jazeera 2/3/2009
Israel has carried out air raids in the south of the Gaza Strip in retaliation to a rocket fired into its territory. Palestinian fighters had launched a missile on Tuesday, which exploded in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon, the Israeli army said. There were no immediate reports of casualties in both attacks, but smuggling tunnels were targeted alongside another location by Israel. Witnesses said at least three rockets were fired by Israel at the tunnels, which the Jewish state says are used to bring weapons into the Gaza Strip. A Hamas military position near Khan Younis, also in southern Gaza, was hit, witnesses said. The Israeli army had earlier told residents to leave the area. Israeli warning Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister, said at a security conference in Herzliya: "I suggest Hamas doesn’t fool around with us. " more.. e-mail
IOF gunboats fire at Palestinian fishermen
Palestinian Information Center 2/3/2009
GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli gunboats on Tuesday opened fire from their heavy machineguns and fired projectiles at Palestinian fishing boats off the coasts of southern Gaza Strip inflicting material damage but no casualties. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli occupation forces’ warplanes also launched mock raids on west of Khan Younis, to the south of the Strip, on Tuesday. IOF air raids on Monday killed a Palestinian member of the Salahuddin Brigades, the armed wing of the popular resistance committees, and wounded four other citizens. The Brigades retaliated by firing a number of locally made missiles at Israeli targets. Meanwhile, the Hebrew radio said that a Grad missile fell in the Askalan coastal city, occupied since 1948, causing material damage to a number of cars but no casualties. In the West Bank, the IOF soldiers sealed the entrances to Nablus city and deployed more. . . more.. e-mail
During pre dawn invasions: the Israeli military kidnaps 12 civilians from the West Bank
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/3/2009
12 Palestinian civilians were kidnapped during pre dawn Israeli military invasions, targeting a number of West Bank cities and nearby villages on Tuesday. Three young men where kidnapped when Israeli troops stormed the village of Beit Fajar, located near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, and searched homes there, witnesses said. Meanwhile, five civilians were taken during a house search campaign Israeli soldiers carried out in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and nearby Beit Awa and Bani No’am villages. Among those kidnapped from Bani No’am village was Mohamed Shohadah, and his brother Nabeel. The Israeli Army killed their brother Taysser on Monday while he was going to his work. The Israelis clams that Taysser and his co-workers opened-fire towards Israeli troops at a military checkpoint near Hebron, witnesses said that the car Taysser was in was for Palestinian workers going to work, and they did not open-fire at the soldiers. more.. e-mail
Three Palestinians seized as Israel invades Bethlehem area
Ma’an News Agency 2/3/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli forces detained three young men from Beit Fajjar and raided Ad-Duheisha Refugee Camp in southern Bethlehem at dawn on Tuesday. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that Israeli forces raided Beit Fajjar, entered a number of houses and searched them. Forces detained 17-year-old Salamah Mohammad Taqatqah, 15-year-old Majdi Majed Taqatqah and 15-year-old Ra’fat Ibrahim Taqatqah transferring them for interrogations. Sources reported the soldiers stormed a store and house owned by Da’oud Al-Mahssiri at Ad-Duheishah and searched them. No detentions were reported there. Meanwhile, Israeli forces detained civilians from the northern West Bank city of Jenin and village of Kafr Dan. Later, soldiers abducted two Palestinians from the town of Orta, south of Nablus. more.. e-mail
Palestinians: IDF targets Gaza smuggling tunnels, Hamas training position
Yanir Yagana and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 2/3/2009
An Israel Air Force aircraft bombed smuggling tunnels connecting Gaza with Egypt on Tuesday after a rocket launched from the Islamist Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip struck the southern port city of Ashkelon, Gaza residents and Hamas officials said. One Israeli plane also fired a missile into a training position of the armed wing of Hamas in Abassan village east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Hamas and residents said. There were no immediate reports of casualties in either of the attacks. Residents of the southern Gaza town of Rafah said on Tuesday that they received telephone messages from the Israel Defense Forces warning them to leave their homes ahead of an impending air strike. The town, on the frontier with Egypt, is a center for smuggling goods and weapons into the strip through tunnels under the border. more.. e-mail
Dozens of Palestinian buildings in Jerusalem may collapse due to excavations
Palestinian Information Center 2/3/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Jerusalem center for social and economic rights warned Tuesday of the collapse of dozens of Palestinian homes and other buildi gs in the old city and the Silwan town south of occupied Jerusalem as a result of the continued Israeli excavation beneath and around these buildings. In a report, the center explained that the collapse, which occurred at the UNRWA Jerusalem school in the Silwan town, was the result of an outgrowth of wide and dangerous excavations being carried out by Israel under the Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian real estate in the town especially in the areas of Ein Helwa and Ein El-Louz, where there is a set of deep and wide tunnels branching from Ein Silwan and going north towards the southern wall of the Aqsa Mosque. The report added that dozens of Jerusalemite real estate over the course of these excavations are threatened with collapse. . . -- See also: Israeli excavations blamed for school collapse that injured 17 girls more.. e-mail
Home demolitions rise in East Jerusalem, 4 destroyed with 12 listed as next
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 2/3/2009
PNN exclusive -- With the escalation in demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, Khader Dibs issued a condemnation of the Israeli-controlled Municipality. As Chairman of the Popular Committee against the Wall in Jerusalem, Dibs told PNN today, "The Israeli occupation authorities have a policy to demolish a higher number of Arab houses in East Jerusalem. " He added, "And as such delivered many more notifications to Jerusalemites of the demolition of their homes. "Four Palestinian homes were destroyed and 12 demolition orders delivered within the past few days. Dibs continued to say on Tuesday, "Some of the homes have been isolated in the wall of apartheid. This comes in implementation of the policy to empty the city of Jerusalem from its rightful owners and to raise the proportion of Jewish residents in addition to the strangulation of Jerusalem. . . more.. e-mail
Israeli Authorities demolish a Palestinian owned garage and a warehouse in Jerusalem
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/3/2009
The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem demolished on Tuesday a Palestinian owned bus garage and a warehouse for construction materials. The bus garage is owned by the Abu Dayah family, Palestinian family in Jerusalem that runs a tourism buses company, the garage is located just outside the walls of Jerusalem old city. Meanwhile the warehouse for construction materials is owned by another Palestinian family and is located near the garage, local sources reported. The sources added that the Israeli army surrounded the area then bulldozers demolished the two facilities and left. The municipality says the facilities have been built without the needed permission. Since Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem in 1967, Palestinian residents have rarely been given permits to build homes, meanwhile Israel continue to Jewish-only illegal settlementsin and around Jerusalem. more.. e-mail
Israel Demolishes Two Palestinian Homes in East Jerusalem
Palestine Media Center 2/3/2009
The Israeli army and officials with the municipality of Jerusalem demolished two homes on Monday morning owned by a Palestinian family, located near the old city. Witnesses said that Israeli troops surrounded the Shofat area near Jerusalem’s old city, then bulldozers demolished two homes that owned by Ghith family. The Israeli authorities say that the homes were built without the required planning permits. Since Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem in 1967, Palestinian residents have rarely been given permits to build homes, but Israeli Jewish-only settlements have been allowed to expand exponentially on stolen Palestinian land in East Jerusalem. Israeli government officials have publicly stated, on a number of occasions, that their plan is to ’Judaize’ Jerusalem to create ’facts on the ground’ that will make it difficult for Palestinians to get their land and homes back in any future negotiations or peace process. A report issued by Peace Now regarding Israeli settlement construction in the. . . more.. e-mail
Israel nabs two Palestinians from northern West Bank village
Ma’an News Agency 2/3/2009
Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers detained two young Palestinians from the Orta village south of Nablus, a member of the village’s council told Ma’an. Soldiers also demanded that three brothers “give themselves up” to Israel, according to four young men who were threatened over the allegedly hiding men. Village Council Member Hani Darwasheh told Ma’an that Israeli troops overran the village at 2:00am on Tuesday, raiding several homes and detaining 21-year-old Hindawi Qawariq, a student at An-Najah National University, and 22-year-old Baha Faze Darwasha. He added that troops raided another two houses and called the parents of Majed, Mazen and Samer Sharab and Majdy Qawariq to “hand themselves over” to Israeli forces. The father of Qawariq said in a telephone call with Ma’an that Israeli soldiers demolished a gate leading to his home’s entrance, as well as confiscated his other son’s Jawwal mobile phone. more.. e-mail
Two more Palestinians seized near Jenin
Ma’an News Agency 2/3/2009
Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli forces detained a number of civilians in the northern West Bank city of Jenin and the village of Kafr Dan on Tuesday morning, taking them to an undisclosed location. Palestinian Authority security sources identified the detained young men as 21-year-old Ahmad Tharwat Aj-Jammal of Jenin and 30-year-old Ibrahim Sobhi Al-Aabed. Soldiers seized them after storming their houses, confiscating a computer from one of them. Eyewitnesses told Ma’an’s correspondent in Jenin that large numbers of Israeli soldiers surrounded the Al-Jammal’s house on Nablus road, calling on residents inside to evacuate through loudspeakers. The residents were temporarily detained while soldiers searched the house. Meanwhile, onlookers in Kafr Dan reported that forces seized a computer belonging to Al-Aabed, before detaining him, as well, and searching a cell phone store nearby. more.. e-mail
Palestinian teenager arrested in Jerusalem, accused of planning attack
Ma’an News Agency 2/3/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers have arrested an 18-year-old Palestinian from Bethlehem accusing him of planning a bombing in Jerusalem, the youth’s family said on Tuesday. According to the family, Abdullah Sulaiman Abu Zahira, was arrested on Friday in Jerusalem. [end]
Israel launches three airstrikes on Gaza
Ma’an News Agency 2/3/2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli F16 fighter jets bombed the borderline between the Gaza Strip and Egypt south of the city of Rafah, and an alleged training camp for Palestinian fighters near the city of Khan Younis on Tuesday evening. Witnesses reported that the American-made warplanes fired at least one missile in Rafah, and also reported the sound of a massive explosion. In a second strike warplanes struck what is said to be a training camp for the armed wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, on the outskirts of the city of Khan Younis, also in southern Gaza. Later, Israeli warplanes bombed another alleged Al-Qassam installation in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. Medical sources have not yet reported any casualties in any of the attacks. Earlier Israeli planes dropped leaflets on Rafah warning residents to leave the area near the borderline, near the smugglers’ tunnels. more.. e-mail
IAF strikes targets in Gaza
Roni Sofer, YNetNews 2/3/2009
Palestinian sources report Israeli aircraft targeted smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza as response to firing of Grad missile towards Asheklon this morning. Defense Minister Ehud Barak: ’I urge Hamas not to get smart with us’ - The Air Force (IAF) bombed targets in the Gaza Strip Tuesday evening in response to Grad rocket fire on Ashkelon earlier in the day. At 6 pm a vehicle was bombed in Rafah, as well as a Hamas outpost east of Khan Younis. An outpost belonging to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam, Hamas’ military wing, was also struck in Beit Lahiya. Earlier, Gazan sources reported that IAF aircraft bombed tunnels in the Rafah area. Sources said no one was injured in the attacks. Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who was addressing the annual Herzliya Conference at the time of the attack, informed the assembled audience that the Air Force "is currently operating in the Gaza Strip. more.. e-mail
Report: Gazans warned of strike; Barak: We’ll respond to rockets
Ynet, YNetNews 2/3/2009
As Rafah residents reportedly recieve IDF phone calls warning of possible strike in southern Strip, defense minister tours northern border, saying ’Hamas really wants a calm, but the attacks are a fact. If a stronger blow is needed, it will come at the right time’ - Residents of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip reported receiving phone calls from the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday warning them of a possible strike in the area, following the Grad rocket attack on Ashkelon that morning that caused damage to property and a number of shock victims. During a tour of the Northern Command, Defense Minister Ehud Barak commented on the rocket, saying, "There will be a response to the attack in the Gaza Strip. ""We dealt Hamas a very heavy blow, it is picking up the pieces now," Barak said, "Hamas really is interested in a calm, but the attacks are a fact, and you can’t ignore facts. more.. e-mail
Rocket lands in central Ashkelon
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/3/2009
Air Raid siren sounds in southern city shortly after 7 am, followed by explosion. Grad rocket lands between buildings in residential neighborhood; three people suffer shock, several cars damaged - For first time since ceasefire took effect, rocket hits central Ashkelon: Despite the alleged ceasefire in southern Israel, an air raid siren sounded in the city of Ashkelon shortly after 7 am Tuesday, followed by an explosion. A Grad rocket landed between buildings in a residential neighborhood in the city center as residents were making their way to school and to work. Three people suffered shock, several cars were damaged and windowpanes were shattered. The narrow forum consisted of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met Tuesday morning to discuss the renewed escalation and the Israeli response to the rocket fire. more.. e-mail
Gaza rocket hits Ashkelon
Associated Press, The Guardian 2/3/2009
First Grad rocket to be fired at city since ceasefire • Israeli foreign minister says terror must be met with force - Israeli foreign minister says terror must be met with force - A long-range Grad rocket from Gaza landed in the Israeli city of Ashkelon today as Hamas delegates met Egyptian officials in Cairo for talks aimed at securing a long-term truce with Israel. The rocket was the first of its kind to be fired at the city of 122,000 since informal ceasefires were declared separately by Israel and Hamas two weeks ago at the end of Israel’s three-week-long offensive in Gaza. No one was injured in today’s attack, police said. Israel launched Operation Cast Lead on 27 December with the aim of stopping rockets being fired from Gaza on a near-daily basis at Israeli targets. Sporadic rocket and mortar fire from Gaza has continued, however, prompting tough warnings of reprisals from Israeli leaders. more.. e-mail
VIDEO - Palestinians showcase new rocket
Ali Waked, YNetNews 2/3/2009
Military wing of Popular Resistance Committees proudly displays footage documenting use of new rocket in attack against southern Israel - The Salah al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, released a video on Tuesday in which members of the terror group are seen firing a ’Sijil’ type rocket towards the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel. The organization claims that this is the first time a rocket of this type is fired from the Gaza Strip. Hamas has launched several rockets into the Eshkol region over the past several days, and the exact date of the footage has not been confirmed. On Tuesday morning a Grad missile landed in the city of Ashkelon, damaging property but causing no injuries. The IDF responded with a series of airstrikes against smuggling tunnels in Rafah. more.. e-mail
Palestine Today 020309
Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center News 2/3/2009
Click on Link to download or play MP3 file|| 4 m 00s || 3. 66 MB || Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center www. imemc. org, for Tuesday, February 3ed, 2009. Israeli settlers attack Palestinian farmers in the West Bank injuring six, and troops demolish two facilities in Jerusalem, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The News Cast Six Palestinian farmers where injured on Tuesday midday during an attack by Israeli troops and settlers in the village of Sa’er located near the southern West Bank city of Hebron. Witnesses said that Israeli settlers, protected by Israeli troops, came to the village land and started to uproot olive trees. When farmers tried to protect their trees soldiers attacked them along with the settlers injuring six of them. Medical sources said that the six sustained light wounds and were moved to Hebron hospital for treatment. more.. e-mail
Paratrooper critically wounded in Gaza recovers
Meital Yasur Beit-Or, YNetNews 2/3/2009
2nd Lt. Aharon Karov was called up for service in Gaza the morning after his wedding and critically wounded in combat. Today he said saluted the doctors who three weeks ago gave him scant hours to live - and left the hospital - Three weeks after they gave him mere hours to live, the paratrooper officer critically wounded in Operation Cast Lead saluted his doctors farewell - and left the hospital. Platoon commander 2nd Lt. Aharon Karov, 22, was ordered to cut his leave short and report for duty in Gaza the morning after his wedding to Tzvia, 19. She was by his side on Tuesday as he said goodbye to the doctors who saved his life at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. The young officer will continue his rehabilitation at the Shiba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer. more.. e-mail
Israeli ambulance driver refused help to soldier injured by settlers
Ma’an News Agency 2/3/2009
Bethlehem – Ma’an – An Israeli ambulance driver refused to evacuate a fellow border guard injured in Hebron during a settlement evacuation, police investigations revealed on Tuesday. The soldier was moderately injured in clashes between other military and illegal settlers over the occupation of the Ar-Rajabi family home in the West Bank city of Hebron in November, the Hebrew-language newspaper Ma’ariv reported. The ambulance driver was apparently sympathetic to the illegal settlement movement, furious over Israel’s enforcement of laws preventing arbitrary theft of Palestinian property. When other settlers injured the soldier carrying out Israel’s orders to remove the occupying settlers from the home, the driver reportedly verbally abused the man, refusing to evacuate him or other injured police. An Israeli commander told the newspaper the incident was “dangerous and unexplainable,”. . . more.. e-mail
IAF strikes 6 targets in central, south Gaza
Reuters, YNetNews 2/2/2009
Military confirms Israeli fighter jets targetHamas security headquarters, smuggling tunnels hours after PM Olmert vowed ’disproportionate’ response to rocket, mortar fire that injured three Israelis - The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group belonging to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction, said it fired some of the rockets, but not all were claimed. - Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Islamist group said, after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed a "disproportionate" response to mortar fire that injured three Israelis. Security sources confirmed the strike, citing that the Israeli Air Force struck six targets in Gaza during the evening hours. The targets included a Hamas stronghold, and several tunnels on the Philadelphi Route. According to the sources, the fire triggered several explosions, indicating that Hamas as resumed its arms smugglings. No casualties were reported. -- See also: Fatah denies it took responsibility for firing projectiles at Israel more.. e-mail
Israel bombs Gaza targets
Al Jazeera 2/2/2009
Israel has bombed several targets in the Gaza Strip, witnesses say, hours after the Israeli government vowed a "disproportionate response" to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory. An Israeli security official confirmed the attack, one of which was on an empty police station, on Sunday. "The air force has carried out several strikes across the Gaza Strip," he said. There were no reports of casualties or injuries in the attack on the police building. Other attacks targeted at least seven tunnels along the Palestinian territory’s border with Egypt, the AFP news agency reported. Before the attacks, Israeli aircraft also flew over an area near the border town of Rafah, setting off sonic booms. Witnesses said hundreds of people who work in the tunnels there fled, along with residents. -- See also: Hamas says Israel manipulating projectile concerns more.. e-mail
Abbas: Rockets give Israel excuse for escalation
Ali Waked, YNetNews 2/1/2009
Palestinian leader slams armed groups in Gaza for ’ending ceasefire due to interests and agendas that have nothing to do with the Palestinian people’ -Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed the failure of the truce with Israel on the Palestinian factions in Gaza. "We did everything we could in order for the truce to continue, but because of interests and agendas that have nothing to do with the Palestinians, it was decided to end the truce," he said on Sunday. "Israel does not need an excuse to escalate the situation, but these rockets have given it the excuse. Those who say that Israel won (in Gaza) with its warplanes but we won the international community over with the blood of our children – this is a criminal outlook. "Leadership and responsibility do not mean sending innocent people to hell," Abbas continued, "this (Gaza war) was an adventure that hurt the Palestinian nation’s dream of an independent state. " -- See also: Fatah group claims responsibility for rocket attack and Hamas says Israel manipulating projectile concerns more.. e-mail
3 lightly injured in mortar attack on Negev
Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 2/1/2009
Palestinian gunmen fire five mortar shells at western Negev region; two IDF soldiers, civilian sustain mild injuries; total of four Qassam rockets, 13 shells hit Israel since morning hours - Fatah’s military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. - Five mortar shells fired from northern Gaza Sunday afternoon landed in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council limits. Two IDF soldiers and a civilian sustained mild shrapnel injuries in the attack and were evacuated to the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba for treatment. A short while later, at around 6:20 pm a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza landed in the western Negev; there were no reports of injury or damage. The attacks on Israel began at 6:50 am, when three Qassams were fired from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev. One projectile landed in the Sdot Negev Regional Council and the other two hit the Eshkol Regional Council, one of them landing between two kindergartens. more.. e-mail
Israeli F16 jets bomb several targets in Gaza
Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 2/1/2009
Israeli F16 jet fighters shelled several areas in the Gaza Strip on Sunday night, Palestinian sources said. The sources said that a Palestinian police station in Gaza City was targeted along with areas close to the Gaza-Egypt border near the city of Rafah in the south of the Strip. As yet there are no reports of casualties. Israeli source said that the shelling was in response to the home made shells that Palestinian resistance groups fired at Israeli targets near the Strip. Palestinian resistance groups said that the attacks are a response to the continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. Israel announced the unilateral ceasefire on Sunday January 17th, 2009 after the Israeli army embarked on a 22-day military offensive which began on Saturday, December 27th, 2008. Homes, schools, mosques, UN centers, and media agencies were attacked by Israeli air, sea, and ground forces leaving at least 1,330 Palestinians dead and thousands injured. more.. e-mail
Israeli sources : two soldiers slightly wounded by homemade shells
Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 2/1/2009
Israeli media sources reported on Sunday that two Israeli soldiers were wounded slightly as a mortar shell was fired from Gaza into the nearby Israeli area of Sha’aar Hanigaiv. The sources said that another homemade shell landed in the nearby Israeli town of Sderot, with no injuries reported. Earlier in the day, the sources reported that four homemade shells landed in the same area of Sha’ar Hanigev, with no injuries or damages reported. Israeli cabinet decided Sunday that Israeli army will respond to the homemade shells fire in the right time and the right place, maintaining that Israel will not keep silent to the continued homemade shell fire from Gaza into Israel. The said developments come in the backdrop of a three-week Israeli massive attacks on the coastal region, where more than 1340 Palestinians, half of them are women and children, were killed and more than 5500 others were wounded. more.. e-mail
Israel’s air force hits police station in central Gaza; no injuries
Ma’an News Agency 2/1/2009
Bethlehem - Ma’an - Israeli aircraft bombed a de facto government police headquarters in the Gaza Strip late on Sunday night, as well as two sites in Rafah. No injuries were immediately reported in any of the three strikes, medical sources said. Aircraft were seen circling over the skies of Gaza City before the strike, leading to fears Israel would respond harshly to projectile attacks that injured two soldiers earlier in the afternoon. In a statement sent to Ma’an, an Israeli spokesperson said the strikes were "in response to the barrage of Qassam rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel [Sunday]. " The targets attacked included "a Hamas outpost," the statement said, an apparent reference to the police station bombed in central Gaza, as well as six smuggling tunnels in and around Rafah. "As the sole authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas bears full responsibility. . . more.. e-mail
Olmert threatens ’disproportionate’ response to rockets
Agence France Presse - AFP, Daily Star 2/2/2009
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel vowed a "disproportionate" attack against the Gaza Strip on Sunday, two weeks after the end of a war in the territory that elicited allegations of war crimes by the Zionist state. "We’ve said that if there is rocket fire against the south of the country, there will be a severe and disproportionate Israeli response," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the weekly cabinet meeting. Israel - which goes to the polls on February 10 - has been hit by several rockets since a January 18 ceasefire largely brought an end to its 22-day war on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Israel was widely criticized for disproportionate use of force in its onslaught of the Gaza Strip that killed over 1,300 Palestinians, including over 400 children and over 100 women. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, were killed in the same time. more..