Conflict..

Nine Palestinians injured in Hamas-Fatah clashes in Nablus Ma’an News Agency 12/22/2006 Nablus - Several Palestinians have been seriously injured in clashes between Fatah and Hamas fighters in the city of Nablus on Friday morning. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that members of the Hamas movement were preparing to celebrate its 19th anniversary in the city stadium when clashes started between the two sides. Among the casualties, Mo’een Hamoudha, 32, was seriously injured in the head. Wael Hash-Shash of the Hamas movement told Ma’an that Hamas members abducted the Fatah member Tamir Ashour, 20, after the shooting broke out. The Hamas members insist that they are interrogating him as to find out who send him to shoot at the Hamas festival. Hash-Shash stated that the celebration will continue as planned, and he called on the security bodies to fulfil their role "in preserving law and order". more.. Peretz okays Ma’aleh Adumim barrier Jerusalem Post 12/22/2006 Defense Minister Amir Peretz has approved the original route of the separation barrier surrounding the Ma’aleh Adumim enclave, placing 64,000 dunams of West Bank land on the Israeli side of the barrier, Jerusalem lawyer Shlomo Lecker told The Jerusalem Post Thursday. Lecker represents Palestinian petitioners from Abu Dis and Suahra A-Sharqia who are objecting to three segments of the 38-kilometer-long barrier. He said he had been informed of Peretz’s decision by Justice Ministry attorney Orit Corinaldi-Sirkis, who is representing the state in the petitions. The Justice Ministry spokesman was unable to confirm or deny the report. Corinaldi-Sirkis was out of the country. A spokesman for Peretz told the Post the matter was being looked into.... In fact, the barrier does much more than protect Ma’aleh Adumim... more.. Israeli Army attacks several West Bank areas and abducts 24 Palestinian men International Middle East Media Center 12/22/2006 The Israeli army invaded several parts of the West Bank on Friday morning, attacked residents’ homes, and abducted 24 residents. In the northern part of the West Bank, an army convoy attacked Nablus City, Balata Refugee Camp, and Askar Refugee Camp, located in the city of Nablus, searched and ransacked scores of residents’ houses, and abducted 11 men there. No names have been issued at the time of this report. Meanwhile, the Israeli army abducted 9 Palestinian men from the southern West Bank city of Hebron in pre-dawn invasions and home raids in the city and surrounding villages. Four Palestinian teenagers were abducted by Israeli forces during a pre-dawn invasion in the village of Taqua, south of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem. more.. Israeli soldiers attack boys in Aqaba village; stab one Ma’an News Agency 12/22/2006 Nablus - Palestinian medical sources have informed Ma’an’s correspondent in Nablus that Israeli soldiers attacked and severely assaulted Palestinian boys in the village of ’Aqaba, east of Tubas in the northern West Bank. The sources added that one of the boys was hit with a knife by one of the soldiers. The same sources said that a huge contingent of Israeli military vehicles and soldiers invaded the village and stopped five boys, before attacking them and stabbing Qusay Ad Dik in the hand. The boy was transported to a central city hospital for treatment. [end] Sporadic clashes between Hamas and Fatah Al-Bawaba 12/22/2006 A fierce gunbattle was reported between Hamas and Fatah fighters in Gaza City early Friday, despite a two-day old truce. The street battle erupted when Hamas men tried to free two kidnapped members, including a senior one. It ended after 20 minutes as clerics and other mediators worked to restore the cease-fire. Nobody was hurt, health officials said. The violence came after a Hamas member, Mahmoud Al-Lali, was kidnapped late Thursday night by armed men, who fired assault rifles in the streets and seriously wounded a bystander. Hamas said its fighters exchanged fire with Fatah-affiliated members behind the kidnappings. The fight quickly spread, drawing in guards outside the residence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, and Hamas gunmen guarding the home of Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas Zahar. more.. Palestinians fire three Qassam rockets at western Negev Ha’aretz 12/23/2006 Qassam rocket strikes Sderot bank building causing damage -- Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired three Qassam rockets Friday evening into the western Negev. The first rocket landed in a kibbutz residential area, shattering several windows. No injuries were reported. The second strike caused some damage to a bank building in the center of the western Negev city of Sderot. Two people were treated for shock. The third rocket landed in an open field and caused no damage or injuries. Early Friday morning, a Qassam rocket landed in an open field in the western Negev causing no injuries. On Thursday, Palestinians shot six Qassam rockets, two of which landed in the center of Sderot. The first strike on the city, which occurred in the early evening.... Islamic Jihad confirmed firing the rocket... more.. Jenin Camp foils ambush attempt Palestine News Network 12/22/2006 The people of Jenin Refugee Camp detected the Israeli ambush this morning. On and off for weeks Israeli forces have been sneaking into Jenin and Nablus under cover of darkness and overtaking houses where they wait for their “target. ”This has proven effective for the Israelis who have recently killed several Palestinians by using this method, including two men in a Jenin area village just days ago. On Friday morning the Israeli special forces set themselves up in a school adjacent to the camp. However, residents and those working in the National Security headquarters in Jenin realized they were there. The mission to ambush the “wanted” was aborted. It was at that point that at least 20 Israeli military vehicles stormed the camp. Eyewitnesses report that as soon as the special forces were evacuated, the military vehicles followed suit. [end] Settler jailed for murdering four Palestinians commits suicide Ha’aretz 12/23/2006 Asher Weissgan, the West Bank settler who was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences and 12 additional years for the murder of four Palestinian workers and injuring a fifth in the settlement Shilo in August 2005, committed suicide Friday morning in Ayalon Prison. A preliminary investigation into the suicide indicates that Weissgan asked the on-duty officer to transfer him from the religious-observant ward in which he was staying. Weissgan was removed from his cell and placed in a temporary cell while his replacement was being considered. In a morning inspection of his cell Friday, Weissgan was found hung by phylacteries which he had tied around his neck. The prison administration found that Weissgan had left his prayer book open on the Kaddish, a Jewish sanctification prayer. more.. Fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza for second day ReliefWeb 12/21/2006 GAZA CITY, Dec 21, 2006 (AFP) - A fragile ceasefire aimed at halting a surge in fighting between rival Palestinian factions held in the Gaza Strip for a second day Thursday after president Mahmud Abbas urged restraint on all sides. No clashes between Abbas’s Fatah party and the ruling Hamas movement have been reported since early Wednesday, when a four-hour gunbattle in southern Gaza City killed two Fatah loyalists hours after a new truce went into effect. Gaza City residents went about their daily routine, though armed gunmen, some of them masked, continued to patrol the streets. At a press conference in Ramallah late Wednesday, Abbas pleaded for an end to factional fighting in the streets." I call on Palestinians from all political factions to show responsibility and restraint," Abbas said. more.. Stray Qassam injures 2-year-old in Beit Hanun Ha’aretz 12/22/2006 Five Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel yesterday. A sixth Qassan that was fired from Beit Hanun hit a nearby home, injuring five Palestinians including a 2-year-old boy whose legs were broken in the attack. One of the rockets that landed in Israel, one fell in the center of Sderot, close to a basketball court at a community center. No one was injured but a few people were treated for shock and some property damage was reported. Another Qassam landed near a bus in Sderot, causing some shrapnel injuries and shock. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for firing the rockets into Israel, which it said was in order to avenge the deaths of two members in an Israeli arrest raid in the West Bank earlier this week. The rocket that hit the Palestinian house blew through the home’s living room... more.. Israeli confiscation of Jerusalem includes 100,000 Jewish settlers per year Palestine News Network 12/21/2006 The Israelis are bringing 100,000 Jewish settlers to Jerusalem every year. The Director of Mapping in Jerusalem’s Arab Studies Society said that the Israeli plan to Judaize the city will accommodate 500,000 more settlers by 2010. Part of that plan is Sharon’s blueprint of imposing a settlement inside East Jerusalem’s Old City. Before falling ill, Sharon spoke of the settlement project known as E1, which aims to impose an industrial zone , 3,500 housing units, and five hotels on a one kilometer area. The placement will cut-off East Jerusalem entirely and make establishing the Palestinian capital an impossibility. The area of “Greater Jerusalem” is 600 km and is becoming possible to access for Israelis-only through a system of streets and tunnels that connect to the settlements. more.. Israeli forces invade At-Taweel village in the Negev, threaten to destroy Bedouin village Ma’an News Agency 12/21/2006 Hebron - Israeli police and border guards have, on Thursday, invaded the Negev village of At-Taweel in large numbers and attached demolition warrants to several houses. Head of the regional council of "the unrecognized villages", Hussain Rafay’a told Ma’an’s correspondent in Hebron that if such orders are fulfilled, that will displace 570 Bedouin, and leave them homeless. Rafay’a added that these houses have already been destroyed, then rebuilt two weeks later. He referred to the intention to submit a complaint to the Israeli High Court on Saturday, in an attempt to stop the displacement plan against this Bedouin community by the Israeli government. [end] Gunmen abduct Hamas fighter, seriously injure another International Middle East Media Center 12/22/2006 Palestinian sources reported on Thursday that unknown gunmen abducted a fighter of the Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, shot and injured another fighter who accompanied him. The Maan News Agency reported that the gunmen shot and injured Mohammad Ata Al Jirjawi, and abducted Mahmoud Al-Lee, both members of the Al Qassam brigades,The attack took place in Al Sabra neighborhood in the center of Gaza city. Medical sources in Gaza described the injury of Al Jirjawi as serious; he suffered a round of live ammunition in his chest. No Palestinian armed faction claimed responsibility for the attack. [end] IDF, police fail to notice evacuated family returned to Hebron home Ha’aretz 12/22/2006 A family that was evacuated from Hebron’s wholesale market a year ago secretly returned about four months ago, but was discovered only recently by the Israel Defense Forces and the Civil Administration. As a result, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court decided it cannot be evacuated via the fast-track method used to evacuate squatters within the first 30 days. The court also canceled the arrest warrant the police issued against Gershon and Shulamit Bar Kochba and their eight children, and forbid their evacuation until a final decision is made on the case. Hebron’s wholesale market was built on Jewish-owned land, and the original owner, a Jewish nonprofit organization, later transferred it to the Jewish community of Hebron. A year ago, however, all the Jewish families living there were evacuated. more.. Homemade Shells Injure Three Palestinians Including a Pregnant Woman in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 12/21/2006 A Palestinian home made shell landed on Thursday morning on a Palestinian house wounding three Palestinians including a pregnant woman in the northern Gaza strip. The shell landed on a home belonging to the Al Massri family, lightly injured a pregnant woman, causing her to miscarry, and also injured two of the woman’s children. The Palestinian home made shells have no guidance systems and many fall into the sea or back into the Gaza Strip. The Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, have announced their responsibility for the launching of several homemade shells at the Israeli town of Sderot on Thursday morning. The brigades said that the attack came as a response to the recent Israeli army killing of three of its members. The Israelis attacked several west Bank cities on Tuesday... more.. Gaza fisherman dies of wounds inflicted earlier this month International Middle East Media Center 12/21/2006 A fisherman died on Thursday morning due to wounds he sustained earlier this month when Israeli navel gun boats opened fire at a group of fishermen near the Rafah beach south of Gaza strip. Medical sources reported that Hamdan Barhum, 23, died on Thursday at dawn in the Gaza city hospital due to wounds he sustained on the 11th of December. [end] Israeli policy of targeted assassinations on the rise this week Palestine News Network 12/21/2006 The Israeli policy of targeted assassinations is back in full force this week illustrating that the ’cease-fire’ really did only apply to the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces assassinated Palestinian armed resistance members in the northern West Bank’s Nablus, Tulkarem, and Jenin this week. Ahmed Betawi of International Solidarity for Human Rights said that the same crew of special forces have carried out the recent assassinations. Betawi said that in just the past three days Israeli forces assassinated four Palestinians. In western Jenin’s Silat Al Harithiya on Wednesday Israeli forces assassinated two Saraya Al Quds members. Eyewitnesses reported that a 24 year old from Tubas and a 26 year old from Sanour were targeted and killed. On Tuesday it was Mohammad Mahmoud Hamad in the town of Illar in Tulkarem. more.. Six "Molotov" cocktails thrown at house of Sheikh Ma’an News Agency 12/21/2006 Nablus - Unidentified men threw six Molotov cocktail bombs at the house of Sheikh Abdul Rahman Yadak, 43, in Qusin, west of Nablus on Thursday morning. Shiekh Yadak is one of the leaders of the Hamas movement in the village of Qusin, and is a member of the local village council. His wife told Ma’an that anonymous men threw six cocktail bombs at the house, causing severe damage to one of the rooms of the house. [end] Changes to separation fence route cost state NIS 700 million Ha’aretz 12/21/2006 Changes to route of the West Bank separation fence at the behest of the High Court of Justice have cost the state roughly NIS 700 million, and could reach as high as NIS one billion in the near future. The High Court, acting in response to petitions by Palestinians and human rights groups, ordered the changes in large part in order to ease the burden imposed by the fence on Palestinian residents of the West Bank. The changes required the Defense Ministry to dismantle and rebuild dozens of kilometers of chain-link fence and concrete wall. In many cases, the court based its ruling on opinions offered by the Council for Peace and Security, which was accorded the status of ? amici curiae? , a ? Friend of the Court?. Sources in the council said they expect that in the near future the High Court will order the relocation of an additional 8-11 kilometers of the fence. more.. Exclusive: Syria builds ’death trap’ villages along border in preparation for war Jerusalem Post 12/22/2006 Warning that Israel may face a "Syrian intifada," a high-ranking officer in Northern Command has told The Jerusalem Post that villages recently built by Syria along the border are planned to be used as "death traps" for IDF troops in Hizbullah-inspired attacks. Since this summer’s war in Lebanon, Syria, the officer revealed, has invested large amounts of money in replicating Hizbullah military tactics, particularly in establishing additional commando units and fortifying its short- and long-range missile array. The idea is to draw Israel into an asymmetric war, the officer said, like the warfare the IDF encounters in combat against the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as well as against Hizbullah in Lebanon. Over the past two years, Syria has built a number of villages along the border with Israel... more.. Calm prevails in Gaza Palestine News Network 12/21/2006 Calm reigned in Gaza City today. Both Fateh-member President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas-member Prime Minister Ismail Haniya demanded restraint on the second day of the agreed upon internal cease-fire. President Abbas called on all Palestinians to show “responsibility and restraint” in order to restore internal calm to the Gaza Strip. More people were killed and injured early yesterday, but Thursday is quiet. The barriers are being removed from streets and in front of buildings, while no armed rallies have been held. After Egyptian mediation, a comprehensive truce was announced late Tuesday by President Abbas, Prime Minister Haniya and Minister of Interior Said Siyam who runs the Executive Force. During the hours that preceded the declaration, six Palestinians were killed, some 20 were injured, including children... more.. Israeli Army Assassinates Two More Palestinians in the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 12/20/2006 Local Palestinian sources reported that an Israeli army convoy invaded the village of Siliet Al Harthia, surrounded a house in the center of the village and clashed with the besieged resistance fighters located inside the home killing two of them. The Israeli Army stormed the village of Siliet Al Harthia near the northern West Bank city of Jenin and killed two Palestinians on Wednesday morning. Medical sources identified the two Palestinians killed as Hussam Al Aifie and Salah Fawastah, both were said to be fighters for Al-Quds Brigades which is the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement. During the gun fight, an additional two activists were also injured and then abducted by the invading Israeli troops. This is the third assassination attack Israeli forces have conducted in the Northern West Bank areas in less than 24 hours. more.. Ten Year Old Girl Shot and Killed East of Tulkarem International Middle East Media Center 12/20/2006 Palestinian sources reported that a ten year old girl, Du’a’ Abd Al Qader, was shot and killed by an Israeli sharpshooter while playing near the illegal Israeli wall in the eastern side of Tulkarem city in the northern part of the West Bank on Tuesday evening. Abd Al Qader was playing with her friends on a farm that is overlooked by an Israeli watchtower located on the illegal wall surrounding the city. A sharpshooter from that watchtower opened fire at the girls, critically wounding Abd Al Qader and injuring her ten year old friend Rasah Shalabi, eyewitnesses reported. Eyewitnesses added that when Palestinian medical teams arrived at the scene they were stopped by Israeli soldiers who surrounded and sealed off the scene and were forced to return to the city after the Israeli soldiers threatened to shoot them if they came any closer the scene. more.. Israeli Air-force targets fighters in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 12/21/2006 Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported Wednesday that an Israeli war-jet fired a missile at a group of fighters in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, no injuries were reported. The attack came after a senior Israeli military officer stated that “Israel will have no restraint regarding the Palestinian violations to cease-fire”. According to the official, Palestinian fighters fired at least 40 homemade shells into Israeli area over the last month. Israeli defense minister, Amir Peretz, and Israel’s prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said that Israel will no longer “have self-restraint” regarding Palestinian fighters who continue to fire homemade shells into Israel. The armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, and the armed wing of Fateh, claimed responsibility for firing several homemade shells into Israeli areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip. more.. Israeli forces arrest 24 Palestinians in the West Bank Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Bethlehem - Israeli sources have said that Israeli forces have arrested 24 Palestinians in towns and cities in the occupied West Bank during raids early on Wednesday morning. Israeli Radio said that the arrests were in the areas of Nablus, Tulkarem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron and that these arrests targeted activists of the Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad movements. The radio station also said that the forces were shot at during the raids, especially in Nablus but said that there were no losses or injures reported on the Israeli side. Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli forces broke into Bethlehem and besieged the neighbourhood of Shahin Valley in the city of Bethlehem and arrested five Palestinians after searching their house. more.. A few hours after the declaration of a truce, two killed and eleven injured in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Gaza - Two Palestinians were killed and eleven injured in clashes between the Hamas Executive Force and members of Fatah, in Al-Thalathini Street and Al Sabra neighbourhood in Gaza City, early on Wednesday morning. Ma’an learned that Mohammad and Mahmoud Dogmosh, both in their twenties, from the security forces, were killed and that the clashes left another eight Palestinians injured; three are in a serious condition. Medical sources said that another three were injured in Wihda Street in the centre of Gaza City. Eyewitnesses told Ma’an that clashes erupted at dawn on Wednesday morning in Al Sabra neighbourhood and Thalathini Street and said that the clashes were fierce; they added that the fighters bombed a house in the Sabra neighbourhood in addition to destroying a wood store belonging to the same family... more.. Israeli forces besiege Jenin area while residents were sleeping or praying, kill three Palestinians Palestine News Network 12/20/2006 Israeli forces raided several home in the western town of Al Salh Harithiya in search of the “wanted” Wednesday morning. These types of pre-dawn raids beg the question, not only of the legitimacy that any Palestinian can legally be arrested by the Israelis as the occupying force, but whether there are any on this so-called “wanted” list. Many residents and politicians believe that these are simply raids of harassment which ensure that residents do not get a good nights sleep and live their lives in fear of what they cannot predict. A leader in Islamic Jihad, Sheikh Khalid Jaradat, told PNN that a large-scale military invasion began at dawn for the second day running. At least 20 Israeli military vehicles stormed the sleeping town with aircraft circling overhead. more.. US weapons prompt Hamas arms race? YNetNews 12/20/2006 Worries ammo flowing into Gaza to be used against Israel -- The United States for the past few days has been providing arms to militant groups from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party to bolster it against rival Hamas factions, WND has learned. According to Israeli and Palestinian security officials, the US weapons shipments have prompted an arms race with Hamas, which has been smuggling into the Gaza Strip larger than usual quantities of weaponry from neighboring Egypt. The Israeli security officials expressed concern some of the weapons obtained by Fatah and Hamas could be used in attacks against Israeli troops operating in Gaza or in raids of Israeli military stations and communities near the Gaza Strip. "There is a massive increase in weapons brought in (to Gaza) since last week," said an Israeli security official. more.. Brigades launch homemade projectiles toward Israeli targets Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Gaza - The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, have on Wednesday launched three homemade projectiles, and three mortar shells towards the Israeli towns of Be’eri, Ashkelon, and the military post at Kisuffim. The al-Aqsa Brigades of the Fatah movement have also launched three homemade projectiles at the Israeli city of Sderot. Both brigades issued statements explaining that the shelling comes "in retaliation for Israeli assassination of Palestinian operatives. [end] Al-Quds Brigades launch two homemade projectiles at Sderot, Israel Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Gaza - Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing affiliated with Islamic Jihad, have on Wednesday claimed responsibility for launching 2 homemade projectiles at the Israeli city of Sderot. The operation came as legal retaliation for the killing of Palestinian citizens, which culminated in the assassination of the Brigades’ operatives, Salah Sawafta and Husam al-Ayasa, said a statement by the Islamic Jihad which Ma’an received. [end] Palestinian military faction launches homemade projectiles at Israel Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Gaza - Al Mujahideen Brigades, a military wing of Fatah, in Palestine warn of the internal conflict between the Palestinian factions. In a statement issued on Tuesday the brigades called on all Palestinian factions to be united and to aim their weapons towards the common enemy. The statement said that the brigades launched two homemade projectiles at the Israeli settlement of Natif Hasara late on Tuesday and another two projectiles at Sderot town inside Israel. [end] Israeli settler Runs over 72-year-old Palestinian man near Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 12/20/2006 An Israeli settler ran over an elderly man Wednesday midday in Al Khader village south of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem. Medical sources said that Ahmed Sbeih 72 sustained fractures and cuts all over his body and he was transported to Beit Jala public hospital. Eyewitnesses said that Sbeih was deliberately run over as he was returning home in the village. [end] Israeli Army Abducts Eight Palestinian Men During Morning Invasion in the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 12/20/2006 The Israeli Army invaded several cities in the West Bank and abducted eight Palestinian men on Wednesday at dawn. Israeli troops invaded several parts of the southern West Bank city of Hebron and abducted two Palestinians. Mazin Ighnimat, 28, was taken away by the Israeli soldiers when they raided the village of Surif, west of Hebron after searching a number of houses there. Meanwhile, another Israeli force stormed the villages of Yatta and Al-Thahriya, south of Hebron city, searched homes and farms, and took Osama Al-Amour, 24, from Yatta to an unknown destination. Elsewhere, in the northern West Bank city of Ramallah, the Israeli army surrounded the home of Ahmad Al-Atownah, 33, deputy assistant in the local government ministry of Ramallah. more.. In pictures: Palestinian clashes BBC Online 12/19/2006 PHOTOS -- Armed Fatah supporter in Gaza City - Armed supporters of Fatah and Hamas have waged gun battles in the Gaza Strip in recent days.... more.. Palestinian clashes spill over into the West Bank Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Jenin - Unknown armed men shot at three houses of Hamas supporters in the village of Kafr Dan, west of Jenin, late on Tuesday night. A Ma’an correspondent reported that the shooting was at the house of Sheikh Ratib Mer’e and Allam Salah, a village council member, in addition to the house of Yahia Masad the Mosque Imam. The Hamas movement has condemned the incident and declared that this seeks to stir conflict in the internal political arena. [end] Israelis annex more Palestinian land for illegal settlements Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Qalqilia - Israeli forces have bulldozed huge areas of Palestinian land east of the village of Jinsafut, east of Qalqilia city, in the northern occupied West Bank. Local sources said that the aim of the destruction of the land is to expand the Israeli settlement of Immanu’el, which was built on the villagers’ lands and land from neighbouring villages. The sources added that the Israeli forces prohibited the owners of the land from entering their land. [end] Palestinian lady apprehended at Atarot checkpoint for possession of a big knife Ma’an News Agency 12/20/2006 Bethlehem - Israeli media have on Wednesday reported that the Israeli forces stationed at the Atarot checkpoint in northern Jerusalem have apprehended a Palestinian woman from Ramallah, in the centre of the occupied West bank because she had a big knife in her car. The sources stated that the lady admitted in the primary interrogation that she intended to stab Israeli policeman at the checkpoint. [end] Power Struggle Splits Palestinian Society By Ola Attallah, Palestine Chronicle 12/19/2006 Deadly gun battles raged across Gaza City on Tuesday, shattering a fragile truce aimed at halting an increasingly violent power struggle between the rival Hamas and Fatah. -- GAZA CITY - The Hamas-Fatah fighting and power struggle, which claimed more five lives on Tuesday, December 19, is splitting the Palestinian society down the middle and leaving otherwise united Palestinians divided. "Fatah with its coup attempt should be solely held accountable for what is going on. It is a battle between the good and evil," said the mother of a Palestinian prisoner at the weekly sit-in of the prisoners’ families outside the Red Cross offices in Gaza City. "No…. Hamas and its policies are to blame," she was angrily interrupted by another mother. A third weighed in, showering the ruling Hamas with accusations of responsibility for the violence. more.. Seven killed and twenty-eight injured in inter-Palestinian clashes in Gaza on Tuesday Ma’an News Agency 12/19/2006 Gaza - Ma’an- A Palestinian member of the Hamas’ Executive Force was killed and seven citizens injured when fierce clashes erupted between the forces and members of the intelligence department near Shifa’a hospital on Tuesday morning. Palestinian medical sources said that 24 year old Ismail Abu Al Kheir was killed and seven Palestinians admitted to the hospital this morning. The public relations director of the hospital, Dr. Juma Saqqa, said that the clashes left one killed and seven injured including a member in the intelligence department who is suffering serious injury. A spokesman of the Executive Force, Islam Shahwan, said "a group of men from the Palestinian intelligence whom we identified, attacked the Executive Force, who guard the hospital. more.. Palestinian PM Reiterates National Unity and Refuses Call for Early Elections International Middle East Media Center 12/19/2006 In a televised speech, Palestinian Prime Minister, responded Tuesday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for early Presidential and Legislative elections earlier this week in the wake of failed national unity government talks and the ongoing internationally-imposed economic embargo. The Palestinian premier recalled a 9-month old failed unity government talks, denying claims that the Hamas-led government has been a part of that failure, citing major stops in such a dialogue including the Qatari foreign minister’s , Hamad Bin Jasem, mediation efforts." The Qatari Foreign Minister has phoned me from Washington, telling me, ‘you are not a part of the problem’, Haniyeh recalled. PM Haniya also held Palestinian parties, without naming any, responsibile for attempting to fail his government... more.. Israeli army kills one Palestinian, injures one, and abducts two near Tulkarem International Middle East Media Center 12/19/2006 Undercover Israeli armed forces infiltrated the village of Alar near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem and killed one Palestinian man, injured one and abducted two others on Tuesday afternoon. Mohamed Hamad, a leader for the Al Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, was ambushed by undercover Israeli soldiers in Alar village. Ssoldiers stopped Hamad’s car, then showered it with live rounds killing him and injuring Ahmad Ajaj, 19, a bystander, eyewitnesses reported. A convoy of Israeli army jeeps invaded the village and surrounded the area where the attack took place to secure a safe retreat for the undercover soldiers. Vehicles and troops left the village shortly after the attack taking with them two prisoners. No names were released at the time of this report. more.. Israeli forces invade Jenin city, Jenin refugee camp and a nearby village International Middle East Media Center 12/19/2006 Israeli troops attacked and searched residents houses in the northern West Bank city of Jenin , the Jenin refugee camp and the nearby village of Kifer Dan, on Tuesday morning. Residents reported that soldiers threw tear gas and sound grenades inside their homes and fired live rounds into the air during the invasion, no injuries reported. Troops also deliberately destroyed residents belongings during the search. The army eventually left after several hours taking no prisoners this time. [end] Israeli army invades a village near Bethlehem and abducts three men International Middle East Media Center 12/19/2006 Israeli forces invaded the village of Al Jab’a, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and abducted three men including the Mayer of the village on Tuesday morning. Local sources reported that army vehicles and troops stormed the village, imposed a curfew while searching and ransacked resident’s homes. Troops then abducted Mufied Abu Luha, 28, who is the Mayer of the village, Wisam Hamdan, 30, who works as a police officer in the city of Bethlehem, and Hitham Hmadan, 26. All were taken to unknown detention centers their families reported. [end] Palestinian killed, another died of his wounds and two arrested in an Israeli military operation in Nablus Ma’an News Agency 12/19/2006 Nablus - Israeli special forces have killed a 24 year old Palestinian man, named Rami Annab, on Tuesday morning. Annab was an Al-Aqsa Brigades (the main military wing of Fatah) activist from Balata refugee camp. A Ma’an correspondent in Nablus reported that the Israeli forces killed the man near Ittihad hospital in the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. They also arrested two men, Imad Abu Salim and Talal Abu Leil. Another man, Imad Zaqzouq aged 24 from the Al-Aqsa Brigades died from the wounds he sustained last week when he was shot by Israeli forces in Al Ain refugee camp near Nablus. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli special forces were in a white car when they approached a car parked in the hospital car park, the soldiers shot at the car and killed Annab before arresting the other two men. more.. Fatah Hamas fighting continues, one Palestinian teen wounded in Gaza city International Middle East Media Center 12/18/2006 One Palestinian teen was critically wounded in the neck after being hit by a live round in central Gaza city in the Gaza strip on Monday morning during a gunfight between Hamas and Fatah fighters. Eyewitnesses reported that today’s fighting started when a group of Hamas gunmen and Fatah gunmen opened fire at each other on downtown Gaza city, leading to the injuring of the 16 year old boy in the neck, he was moved to a hospital in the city were he was treated for critical wounds, medical sources reported. This clash comes shortly after an announced ceasefire between the Palestinian factions announced late Sunday night after a day of street fight between fighters of Fatah and Hamas, three Palestinians were also killed on Sunday in these clashes. more.. One killed, 7 wounded in internal fights in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 12/19/2006 At least one was killed and seven were wounded on Tuesday morning in clashes between the Palestinian General intelligence service and the Executive forces in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources reported. Ismael Abu Al-Kheir 24, member of the executive forces that were formed by the Ministry of Interior after Hamas took office in March of 2006. Medical sources in Gaza city said the clashes erupted in the campus of Al-Shifa hospital in the city and that the clashes are still ongoing. Unrest between the two main rival parties escalated after the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called last Saturday for holding Presidential and Parliamentary early elections in the Palestinian territories. Abbas said this is the only solution left to get the Palestinian people out of the tough blockade they are subject to since March of 2006. more.. Two killed as Hamas-Fatah battles continue despite truce Ha’aretz 12/20/2006 Two people were killed and six others wounded early Wednesday in battles between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza City, just hours after the feuding factions agreed to hold fire for the second time this week. Hamas and Fatah security forces late Tuesday began withdrawing from parts of Gaza City at 11 P. M. , security sources and witnesses said, after a week of rampant violence left 14 dead and dozens wounded. Gaza residents reported gunfire between rival fighters minutes after the truce, which was brokered by Egyptian mediators, went into effect. A previous truce between the ruling Hamas faction and once-dominant Fatah, signed Sunday, broke down within 24 hours.... Hamas and Fatah security chiefs earlier appeared side by side in Gaza City to declare that Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas had agreed to pull back their gunmen. more.. Fateh and Hamas fighting in the streets of Gaza: 3 people killed Palestine News Network 12/19/2006 Gaza City awoke this morning to the sound of bullets and explosions in the vicinity of Al Shifa Hospital. Tuesday’s armed clashes between Fateh and Hamas supporters are being described as the most violent since the start of fighting between the Ministry of Interior’s Executive Forces and the Presidential Security Forces. Eyewitnesses report that the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip became a battlefield, with machine guns and shoulder-held projectile launchers among the weaponry intended for resisting the occupation being used against one another. Since yesterday three Palestinians have been killed. As the incident was reported by the Executive Forces, the Hamas security was attacked with several types of automatic weapons, which led to the death of Abu Khair. more.. Zionism in practice - Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Property Sapienspromise.org 12/19/2006 The Palestinian victims of Israel’s war of Occupation and Settlement since the Zionist State’s ’withdrawal’ from the Gaza Strip on August 20, 2005, number: 809 killed & 4308 wounded -- December 19, 2006: 11 attacks – 26 raids – 2 dead / 2 more 16-year-olds abducted / Occupation settlement land theft / Another checkpoint beating / 9 taken prisoner – 15 detained / 71 restrictions of movement.... Annexations and land theft: 1 -- Ramallah and El Bireh – the Israeli Army has extended a military order to grab 14. 53 hectares of land belonging to the town of Al Mazra’a al Qibliya and the villages of Beitillu, Ras Ammar and Ras Karkar. The land is being taken for the construction of a racially segregated road connecting the Occupation settlements of Talmon and Nahaliel. more.. Israeli warplanes swoop low over Tyre Daily Star 12/20/2006 TYRE, Lebanon: Israeli warplanes carried out low-altitude flights over Southern Lebanon on Tuesday, despite past protests from UN peacekeepers, Lebanese police said. They said four planes flew over the port city of Tyre as well as areas in the western and central sectors along the Lebanese-Israeli border. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni reiterated last week that such flights were needed to monitor alleged arms smuggling by Hizbullah in order to restock following the July-August war." The only reason for these Israeli flights is to get more information," she said, noting that the border remains open between Lebanon and Syria, which Israel accuses of allowing arms to reach Hizbullah. France, which currently commands the UN mission in Lebanon, issued an angry protest to Israeli authorities in October... more.. Israel decides to speed up Golan housing projects Daily Star 12/20/2006 JERUSALEM: Israeli Interior Minister Roni Bar-On said Tuesday he intended to accelerate housing projects on settlements in the occupied Golan Heights, defying recent Syrian calls for peace talks." I made the decision after I toured the Golan Heights where I saw that the Syrians were accelerating the construction of houses in the town of Quneitra" on the border with Israel, Bar-On told Army Radio." Instead of leaving this area in ruins as they had for decades, the Syrians want to populate the area which means this is more than a war front for them," he said. A leader of the Golan local council, Sami Bar-Lev, said the construction of 400 additional homes is under way in Katzrin, the largest Jewish settlement where about 7,500 people live. Israel captured the strategic Golan Heights plateau from Syria in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war... more.. Israeli soldiers steal hundreds of grenades and Lao rockets from Israeli military base Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Jerusalem - Israeli sources have revealed that 25 Israeli soldiers were arrested and suspended from duty, for stealing hundreds of hand grenades and Lao rockets from an Israeli base in the north of Israel. Meanwhile, the Israeli police have warned that dozens of Israeli military bases are facing such robberies, which are rarely reported, according to the police. According to Israeli authorities, the investigation included over 250 soldiers. The Israeli authorities suspect that the stolen weapons could have "leaked out to the Palestinian factions". Israeli police did not miss the opportunity to warn that "a disaster might occur" if the weapons were to be used against Israeli civilians. [end] Israeli intelligence warns Hamas gunmen being trained in Iran Ha’aretz 12/18/2006 Israeli military officials said Monday that dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Hamas militants recently left the Gaza Strip to receive advanced military training in Iran. The training is similar to that received by thousands of Hezbollah guerrillas from Lebanon over the past few years, and Israel fears it will greatly improve Hamas’ military capability in any future battle with Israel Defense Forces troops in Gaza, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. Israel waged a five-month military offensive in the Gaza Strip over the summer, after Hamas militants kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit and killed two of his comrades in a cross-border raid. More than 300 Palestinians were killed in the fighting,most of them militants. One IDF soldier was killed... more.. Assassination in northern West Bank Palestine News Network 12/19/2006 Early Tuesday Israeli special forces assassinated Rami Rashid Inab in Nablus. The 25 year old was a member of the Al Aqsa Brigades armed resistance wing of Fateh. Medical sources in the northern West Bank report that Inab died immediately while Israeli forces shot and injured two other Palestinians, Imad Abu Muslim and Talal Abu Leila. Israeli forces besieged a local hospital and took the two injured men to unknown locations. Witnesses report that the three young men were in a private car in the hospital parking lot when a white vehicle resembling an ambulances stormed the scene and opened heavy fire. It was there that Israeli forces killed Inab and injured Muslim and Leila. An eyewitness told PNN that Israeli soldiers continued shooting throughout the hospital area causing wide-spread panic among residents and patients. more.. Clashes and shooting continue in the streets of Gaza in spite of the ceasefire Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Gaza - Despite the truce announced between the main Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah, the Gaza Strip has witnessed several "regrettable incidents" on Monday morning, resulting in the injury of several Palestinian citizens. Eyewitnesses said that they have heard shooting in the streets of Gaza City, and were worried that clashes might be renewed. They also confirmed that hand-to-hand fighting erupted, and stones were thrown between students in the schools in the north of Gaza City, resulting in the injury of six students and a teacher. Last night and Monday morning witnessed fierce clashes between the two factions after the killing of Lieutenant Adnan Rahmi, after he was kidnapped last night by unidentified armed men. Shots continued to be heard in the streets of Gaza City on Monday morning. [end] One dead in Hamas-Fatah gun battle in Gaza hospital Ha’aretz 12/19/2006 Fierce gunfire erupted early Tuesday within the compound of Shifa hospital in Gaza City between the security personnel of Hamas and Fatah, killing one member of the Hamas executive force and wounding six, witnesses and members of the rival forces said. They said the gunbattle occurred at the entrance and inside the compound of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, but could not say how the fighting had broken out. Gunmen from Fatah and Hamas had exchanged gunfire in Gaza City into the late hours of Monday further straining a shaky ceasefire between the rival Palestinian movements. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Monday to press on with early elections. It was Abbas’ weekend callm for elections that touched off the latest spiral of escalation between the rival factions in the Strip. more.. Interior Min. plans to develop area along Syrian border Ha’aretz 12/19/2006 Interior Minister Roni Bar-On (Kadima) plans to accelerate the process for issuing construction permits in the Golan Heights and to shepherd new projects for the areas adjacent to the Syrian city of Quneitra through the planning committees under his ministry. The decisions follow Bar-On’s tour of the Golan last week. After seeing the heightened pace of building in Quneitra last week, Bar-On concluded that the Syrians are treating the areas near their border with Israel as the future permanent border, focusing on civilian rather than military construction as in the past. The minister said that Israel must take the same approach, and expedite construction in the area. Bar-On’s hosts in the Golan, Golan Regional Council Head head Eli Malka and Katzrin council head Sami Bar Lev, pointed out the new construction in Quneitra... more.. Fatah leader Sufyan Abu Zaydah abducted in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Gaza - Ma’an’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip has stated on Monday evening that unknown gunmen have abducted the Fatah leader, and former minister of prisoners’ affairs, Sufyan Abu Zaydah. He added that armed groups abducted Zaydah at the Falloja neighbourhood in the northern Gaza Strip, where he lives, and took him in an unknown direction. Abu Zaydah had filled several posts in the Palestinian Authority ranging from undersecretary of the ministry of civil affairs, minister of prisoners’ affairs (during Abu Ala’s government), member of the society for prisoners and former prisoners and a member of the higher committee of the Fatah movement. He has served a long time in Israeli prisons also. Furthermore, Zaydah is an expert in Israeli affairs and holder of a PhD from London. [end] Fatah-affiliated Lieutenant murdered in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Gaza - Lieutenant Adnan Rahmi, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, and also a member of the Fatah leadership in the western Gaza region, has been killed after a group of gunmen abducted him on Sikka Street in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The slain body was left near the Kamal ’Udwan hospital after being shot dead. The Fatah movement has accused the Hamas movement of the murder of their leader. [end] Army abducts eight Palestinian men including three brothers from Hebron International Middle East Media Center 12/18/2006 The Israeli army on Monday morning abducted eight Palestinian men from several parts of the southern West Bank city of Hebron. Israeli troops invaded Hebron, the old city, and also surrounding villages Bani Nu’em, Dora, and Beit Kahil near Hebron. During the invasion, the Israeli soldiers searched and ransacked scores of resident’s houses and took the seven men to unknown detention camps, local sources reported. The house of Hisham Al Ja’fari, in the eastern part of Hebron city, was attacked in the morning. Troops searched the houses, damaged some of the family belongings and abducted three of Hisham’s sons, Iyad, 24, Mohamed, 22, Ahmad, 20. Both Mohamed and Ahmad were released after being detained for several hours and questioned by the Israeli army while Iyad was moved to a detention camp... more.. Israeli occupation forces make six arrests in Hebron Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Hebron - Israeli occupation forces have arrested six Palestinian citizens including three brothers and a preventative security member from the area of Hebron late on Sunday night. Hisham Jabari informed a Ma’an correspondent in Hebron that Israeli forces broke into his house, in the city centre and searched it before arresting his three sons, Mohammad aged 22, Ahmad 20, and Iyad 24. Palestinian security sources said that a large Israeli contingent broke into the town of Bani Naim north of the city and arrested members of preventative security, 33 year old Khalil Juneidi and Hamza Rzeiqat aged 21, early on Monday morning and took them to unknown destination. The Israeli forces also raided the town of Beit Kahil, north of the city and arrested Khalil Ahmad aged 30 years. more.. Al Aqsa Brigades launch two projectiles from the Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Gaza - The Al Aqsa Brigades have announced their responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the Israeli kibbutz of Mefalsim near the northern Gaza Strip on Monday. In a statement issued on Monday, the brigades said that "this is a retaliation for the Israeli aggressions and crimes against the Palestinian people. [end] Army invades Jenin city International Middle East Media Center 12/18/2006 Israeli army military vehicles invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Monday morning. Troops fired live rounds and sound bombs into the air and towards residents houses, searched some shops and homes near the city center. The Israeli army then left the city, and no arrests have been reported at this time. [end] One killed, and several injured, as clashes break out anew in the northern Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Gaza - A Palestinian citizen, Ahmad Ziadah, was killed on Monday evening, and a further eight were injured, one of which seriously, after clashes broke out anew in the northern Gaza Strip. It is believed that the deceased was affiliated with the Fatah movement. A Palestinian medical source within the Kamal ’Udwan hospital has confirmed the news to Ma’an. The northern Gaza Strip governorate has also witnessed more than 10 kidnappings in the past few hours. Nine Fatah members have been kidnapped, and one Hamas member. Eyewitnesses have also stated that unknown people removed the corpse of Lieutenant Adnan Rahmi, slain last night, from its tomb. [end] Spokesperson for the interior ministry blames Gaza violence on Israeli affiliates Ma’an News Agency 12/17/2006 Gaza - A spokesperson for the Palestinian ministry of the interior, Khaled Abu Hilal, has held a press conference on Sunday in front of the interior minister’s home, in which he called everyone to show self-restraint and avoid being dragged into a civil war. He leveled the blame for the current domestic deterioration in Palestine on what he called, "Suspicious parties, which serve the Israeli occupation." Abu Hilal denied the rumors that Hamas threatened to kill seven leading Fatah figures during a phone call with a Fatah leader, affirming that Palestinian blood is sacred. He also called on every party to confine the political disagreement and tensions to the political arena. Abu Hilal recounted the incident four months ago when suspicious gunmen opened fire at the Palestinian police and then at the Executive Force, aiming to arouse dispute. more.. The planner of the Munich 1972 operation says he is ready to meet with bereaved Israeli families Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Bethlehem - The planner of the militant operation in the German city of Munich in 1972, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Israeli sportsmen, has shouldered the blame for their death onto the Israeli Prime Minister at that time, Golda Meier. The planner, Abu Da’oud told the Israeli daily newspaper Maariv via phone that he is ready to meet with the families of the slain sportsmen, to explain to them that the cell never intended to kill the sportsmen, "since they were meant to be exchanged with Palestinian prisoners." The plan arranged by Golda Meier in cooperation with the German authorities, however, resulted in the deaths of both the sportsmen and the cell members. Abu Da’oud added, "our interest was in keeping the sportsmen alive, and we had directions not to kill anybody, except in case of self defense. I feel sad for the deaths of both the Israelis and the Palestinians." [end] Unknown gunmen open fire at a Gazan citizen Ma’an News Agency 12/18/2006 Gaza - Anonymous gunmen on Monday afternoon opened fire in the northern Gaza Strip and shot at 27 year old Isma’il Muhammad Haniyya and kidnapped the driver of the car in which the victim was travelling. Director of ambulance and emergency services at the Palestinian ministry of health described the victim’s injury as serious. [end] Israeli troops attack a Palestinian police station near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 12/16/2006 Israeli forces attacked on Saturday a Palestinian police station in Al Samoa’ village, south of the West Bank city of Hebron. Soldiers stormed the station, searched and ransacked it then detained and questioned the officers there for several hours before withdrawing from the village, Palestinian police sources reported. [end] One Palestinian man killed by Israeli army fire in Nablus north of the West Bank International Middle East Media Center 12/16/2006 Palestinian sources reported on Saturday morning that an Israeli army force invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and killed on man. Ameen Makhluf, 20, was killed after being shot by the soldiers in his neck, chest and both of his legs, medical sources in the city reported. The invasion started when an army convoy of vehicles and one bulldozer stormed the city of Nablus from several directions, surrounded the city center and the Old City, sharp-shooters were positioned on roof tops of adjacent houses, in an attempt by the army to abduct what they call wanted Palestinians. A gun fight erupted between the invading troops and local resistance fighters leading to the death of Makhluf who was shot by an Israeli sharp-shooter, eyewitnesses reported. more.. The vehicles the Israeli army never stops The Guardian 12/9/2006 In the third of a series of reports from Nablus, Conal Urquhart wonders how thousands of cars stolen in Israel find their way into the town through some of the tightest security in the world -- A new blue Audi stops in a narrow street of the old city of Nablus. Out jump two gunmen who walk into an adjacent house, taking up their positions for the night. The cars drives off to its next stop. The gunmen are driving a car that has recently been stolen from the streets of Israel and made its way through the West Bank and through some of the tightest security in the world to Nablus. Many people believe that the traffic in stolen cars could not happen without the connivance of the Israeli army. According to the Israeli police, 25,000 cars are stolen every year in Israel, and most end up in Nablus. more.. Hamas accuses Dahlan, presidential security of attempting to assassinate Haniyya International Middle East Media Center 12/15/2006 After the shooting incident targeting the convoy of Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya of the Hamas, which took place shortly after he was allowed back in to the Gaza Strip, Hamas accused Fateh legislator Mohammad Dahlan and members of the presidential security forces at the Rafah Border Crossing of attempting to assassinate Haniyya. Hamas’ media spokesperson Ismail Radwan said in a press release from Gaza that Haniyya survived an assassination attempt carried out “by a spiteful group led by Mohammad Dahlan who prepared and planned this attack”, according to Radwan. Hamas accused the presidential guards of attacking the Prime Minister’s convoy. The Islamic Jihad said the attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister is an attempt to lead the Palestinian people to a serious internal fighting. more.. Fatah-Hamas clashes in Ramallah: over 35 injured Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Ramallah - Palestinian President Abbas has ordered his presidential guards to be deployed in the streets of Ramallah in order to prevent any further clashes between Fatah and Hamas supporters. The decision was taken after over 35 Palestinians were injured, four seriously, in clashes between Hamas supporters and the pro-Fatah security forces in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday after the noon prayers. One of the seriously injured is a member of the national security forces, who sustained a head injury. Our Ramallah correspondent reported that Hamas supporters had planned a peaceful march through the centre of the city on Friday. Abbas’ presidential guards, ’Force 17’, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, which is the main armed wing of Fatah, and the police forces attempted to prevent the demonstrators advancing through the streets. more.. ’This looks like civil war’ - Palestinians battle on the streets The Guardian 12/16/2006 Clashes between Hamas and Fatah leave 30 injured · Rival accused of trying to assassinate PM Haniyeh -- Palestinian factions fought on the streets of Gaza and the West Bank yesterday as the territories slid further into violence and political confrontation. In Gaza City the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, appeared before a rally of tens of thousands of Hamas supporters while in Ramallah at least 30 people were hurt, many seriously, in clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen. Tony Blair is due to visit the Middle East shortly... The Palestinian factions traded accusations yesterday over violence in Gaza this week. Hamas accused a senior Fatah figure, Mohammad Dahlan, of trying to assassinate Mr Haniyeh in a gun battle at the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border on Thursday. more.. Israeli army abducts one Palestinian near Bethlehem International Middle East Media Center 12/15/2006 Friday morning, Israeli army abducted Palestinian man from Nahaleen village south east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Ra’ed Ghaiad, 29, was taken to unknown detention after troops surrounded, searched and ransacked his home. Army left the village shortly after abducting Ghaiad, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Haniyeh allowed to enter without $35m; one bodyguard shot dead, son and advisor wounded in clashes at border crossing Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Gaza - Ma’an - One of Palestinian Prime Minister Haniyeh’s bodyguards was shot dead and six others were injured, including the son of the prime minister and a key advisor, on Thursday night when Haniyeh’s convoy came under intense gunfire as he returned to Gaza from Egypt, after many hours of waiting to cross the border at Rafah. Media sources report that Haniyeh was forced to leave to leave $35 million in Egypt, which he had been carrying in suitcases. Medical sources confirmed the death of Abdur Rahman Nassar, 19, and confirmed that the son of the prime minister is suffering from a serious injury after being shot in the face. Meanwhile, a key advisor to the prime minister, Ahmad Yousef, was moderately injured and being treated in hospital. more.. Al-Aqsa Brigades fire two projectiles at Sderot Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Gaza - The Al-Aqsa Brigades, the main armed group of Fatah, have claimed responsibility for launching 2 home-made projectiles at the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Friday. In their statement, they affirmed that the shelling caused casualties amongst the Israelis. They also said that they will continue their resistance to take revenge for Israel’s military acts. [end] Qassam rocket hits north of Sderot; no damage or injuries Ha’aretz 12/15/2006 A Qassam rocket fired the Gaza Strip hit north of the western Negev town of Sderot on Friday evening, causing no damage or injuries. Fatah-affiliated militants claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. On Thursday, two Qassam rockets hit the western Negev, one of which hit a local kibbutz, causing damage to property but no injuries. The second rocket struck Sderot, causing damage buildings and vehicles. Four people were also treated for shock. Since the cease-fire took hold on November 26, Palestinian militants have fired 25 rockets at Israel, according to the IDF’s count, causing no casualties. Israeli security forces on Thursday killed two Palestinians in separate incidents in the West Bank, leaving at least two bystanders wounded. more.. Israeli army arrests seven in Bethlehem and Ramallah areas Friday Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Bethlehem - The Israeli army arrested seven Palestinians in Bethlehem and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early on Friday morning, according to Israeli media sources. The sources added that five of the arrested men were from the village of Hizma south of Ramallah, and one was arrested in the village of Nil’in, west of Ramallah close to the separation wall. The seventh man was arrested in the village of Nahhalin, south west of Bethlehem, located between the route of the separation wall and the Green Line. [end] Hamas activist shot by gunmen in Nablus on Thursday Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Nablus - A Hamas activist was shot and injured in the Rafidia neighbourhood of Nablus city in the northern West Bank late on Thursday. Our Nablus correspondent reported that Jafar Doglus, 23, was shot with many bullets by unknown armed men as he was standing at the gate of his home. After being transported to Rafidia Hospital, medical sources informed Ma’an that the man was suffering from gunshot wounds in many parts of his body and his condition is moderate to critical. [end] Salah Addin Brigades confirm they have not launched any projectiles since 26 November, remain committed to ceasefire Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Gaza - The An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), have confirmed that they have not launched any projectiles at Israeli towns near the borders of the Gaza Strip since the declaration of the ceasefire on 26 November. A statement issued by the Salah Addin Brigades on Friday said that "some brigades have used our names in issuing statements to announce launching of projectiles at Israeli towns, and here we would like to deny that, and confirm that we have not [launched projectiles]." The statement also said that they are stressing the following:"We did not launch … any projectile since the 26th November and we are committed to the ceasefire." Second, we are committed to what we have agreed upon with other factions and [we have] stopped the projectile launching at Israeli towns... more.. Dahlan: "Accusing me of attempting to kill Haniyya, a clear lie, a bid for my assassination" International Middle East Media Center 12/15/2006 Palestinian legislator, and senior Fateh leader, Mohammad Dahlan, said during a Friday press conference that accusing him by Hamas leaders of attempting to assassinate Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, is a clear lie and an an attempt to cover-up the crime that led to the death of three children in Gaza. Dahlan stated that Hamas gunmen were the ones who fired lat Monday at the vehicle of Major Baha’ Balousha, killing his three children on their way to school, instead of him; the three children are Osama, 10, Ahmad, 6, and Salam, 3 years old. He added that Hamas knows the killers of the three children, and is covering the case because the attackers are members of Hamas. Also, Dahlan stated that surveillance cameras at the Rafah Borders Crossing showed Hamas gunmen breaking into the crossing causing damage to the property. more.. Displaced return amidst growing political tension Electronic Intifada/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 12/15/2006 Report -- Some 200,000 people are estimated to remain in a situation of internal displacement in Lebanon following the hostilities between the Shiite militant and political organisation Hizbollah and Israeli security forces in summer 2006. Nearly one million people were displaced at the height of the conflict - the vast majority of them within Lebanon. Most of the displaced returned to their homes in south Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut immediately following a UN-brokered ceasefire in August 2006. However the destruction of homes and infrastructure, the presence of cluster bombs, and loss of livelihoods are significant obstacles to the return and sustainable reintegration of displaced people. In addition, the overall stability of the country is in doubt as disputes have intensified between Lebanon’s diverse political parties. more.. Hezbollah official: 250 militants killed during Lebanon war Ha’aretz 12/15/2006 BEIRUT - A senior Hezbollah official said Friday that around 250members of the militant group were killed in the summer war with Israel, the highest toll acknowledged by the Shiite Muslim organization. Mahmoud Komati, deputy chief of Hezbollah’s politburo, dismissed Israeli claims that as many as 800 Hezbollah militants were killed, saying the group does not hide its casualties. "We are proud of our martyrs," he told The Associated Press. He estimated that around 250 militants were killed in the July 12-August 14 fighting with Israel. A tally compiled by AP from Hezbollah and police reports during the war put the group’s losses at 70 dead. Lebanon’s Higher Relief Council, a government agency that handles humanitarian crises, has said 1,191 people were killed in Lebanon, mostly civilians... more.. Explosion rocks Gaza city International Middle East Media Center 12/15/2006 An explosion rocked the center of Gaza city on Friday at dawn after bomb went off near a pharmacy. Eyewitnesses reported that a group of unknown gunmen placed the bomb and then fled the scene, damage was reported but no injuries, local sources added. [end] Explosion outside pharmacy in Gaza City Ma’an News Agency 12/15/2006 Gaza - Unknown people detonated an explosive device in front of a pharmacy in Jala’a Street in the centre of Gaza City on Friday morning. Our Gaza correspondent reported that the pharmacy and neighbouring stores sustained slight damages but no casualties were reported. This is the latest in a series of explosions outside commercial premises in Gaza City and Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, including one on the Arab Bank in Gaza City two weeks ago that caused significant damage. [end] Haniyeh bodyguard killed as convoy comes under fire entering Gaza Ha’aretz 12/14/2006 A bodyguard of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was shot dead Thursday night when Haniyeh’s convoy came under fire as he returned to Gaza from Egypt, after spending hours waiting to cross the border. The convoy came under fire as it passed the Rafah border crossing, and it was forced to speed away. Hamas officials said the 24-year-old guard was shot in the head during intense gunfire from Fatah forces. "The bodyguard to Ismail Haniyeh was killed during an assassination attempt," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. The Palestinian prime minister had been delayed for hours on the Egyptian side of Rafah, after Israel prevented him from entering Gaza with $35 million in funds raised on a trip to Muslim states. more.. Israeli troops kill 2 Palestinians in West Bank Middle East Online 12/14/2006 NABLUS, West Bank - Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Palestinian security sources and hospital officials said. Soldiers dressed in plain clothes jumped out of an unmarked car and shot dead a wanted militant in a refugee camp in Nablus, residents said. The residents identified the man as Mohammed Rammah, a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed wing of President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement. Four other Palestinians were wounded during the raid, including a 12-year-old girl, hospital officials said. The Israeli army had no comment but said it was checking the report. In an earlier incident, a 29-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead after soldiers clashed with stone throwers in the village of Kafr al-Deek, near Ramallah. more.. Arrest raids continue unabated in Bethlehem as Christmas season gets under way Palestine News Network 12/15/2006 Israeli forces are continuing their daily incursions into the central West Bank Bethlehem District, hitting the city in particular as it prepares for Christmas and is working to be appealing and inviting to the much needed tourists. During the annual Christmas Bazaar a payload of seven military mechanisms incurred into the center of the city of Bethlehem and headed toward Main Street. Eyewitnesses reported that the soldiers were deliberately moving slowly through the city streets, making both their presence known and holding up traffic. Major bottlenecks ensued and any sense of grace that may have been felt during an afternoon of Christmas preparations was dashed for many. One of the drivers simply tried to pass. He said that the psychological warfare was not going to work on him. more.. Armed car chase in Gaza; one intelligence officer critically injured, another abducted by Salah Addin Brigades Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Gaza - The An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), have claimed responsibility for abducting a Palestinian intelligence officer in Gaza City on Thursday. The Brigades have stated that they abducted Major Mohammad Abu Siyam of the Palestinian intelligence services in retaliation for the abduction of one of their members during an apparent arrest raid earlier on Thursday. The raid by intelligence-security officers in the Tuffah area of east Gaza City, reportedly to arrest suspects involved in the killing of the three children of a senior intelligence officer on Monday, descended into an armed car chase that left a number of Palestinians injured, including one security officer. The Salah Addin Brigades claim that they abducted another security officer, Major Mohammad Abu Siyam. more.. Israeli army assassinates Islamic Jihad activist in Nablus and civilian man near Salfit, 6 children injured Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Nablus - Qalqiliya - Israeli Special Forces assassinated a leader in the Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, in Nablus in the north of the occupied West Bank on Thursday. Israeli troops also killed a 27-year-old man in the West Bank village of Kafr Ad Dik and injured eight others, including four children. Our Nablus correspondent reported that Israeli Special Forces, riding a white van, entered Ein Beit Al Ma refugee camp in Nablus from the eastern direction and killed Muhammad Amin Ramaha, 25, near the UNRWA building in the camp. Eight other Palestinians where injured, including six children and one woman. Four of the children were from the same extended family: Farid Zaitawi, 5; Muhammad Zaitawi, 5; Ayat Zaitawi, 3; and Asil Zaitawi, 6. Another boy, Ashraf Nasser, 13, and a girl, Nadira Subhi, 12, were injured... more.. Qassam strikes Sderot, damaging buildings, cars Ha’aretz 12/15/2006 A Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza struck the Negev town of Sderot on Thursday evening, damaging buildings and vehicles. Four people were also treated for shock. Early Thursday morning, a rocket fired from Gaza hit the western Negev, damaging property on a local kibbutz but causing no injuries. Since the cease-fire took hold on November 26, Palestinian militants have fired more than 20 rockets at Israel, according to the IDF’s count, causing no casualties. Israeli security orces on Thursday killed two Palestinians in separate incidents in the West Bank, leaving at least two bystanders wounded. In the first incident, Special Police Unit troops dressed as civilians killed a 26-year-old Palestinian member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian witnesses and medical officials said. more.. PA intelligence agent linked to Fatah abducted in Gaza City Ha’aretz 12/14/2006 Palestinian gunmen abducted a Palestinian Authority intelligence officer as he waited for a taxi in Gaza City on Thursday, in retaliation for the arrest of a Hamas militant earlier in the day. Major Mohammed Abu Siyam was kidnapped at about 11:30 A. M. , intelligence officials said. Abu Abir, a Popular Resistance Committees spokesman, confirmed the militant group was holding Abu Siyam. Abu Abir said said the intelligence officer would not be released until the detained Hamas and PRC-linked militant was freed, and he threatened to kidnap more intelligence officers. This kidnapping "will not be the last," he said. "Every intelligence officer should stay at home." The General Intelligence unit of the Palestinian security forces, a body loyal to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, arrested Hisham Abu Mukhaimar at his home in Gaza City... more.. Palestinian killed by Israeli military fire near Salfit International Middle East Media Center 12/14/2006 Palestinian medical sources reported on Thursday that one Palestinian resident from Kafr Al Deek village, near the West Bank city of Salfit, died of wounds suffered on Thursday morning after the Israeli army opened fire at him. The resident, Waheeb Al Deek, 27, was seriously injured and moved to a local hospital in Salfit where he died of his wounds. He was hit by five rounds of live ammunition in his chest, medical sources reported. Al Deek was shot by the army after the Israeli forces invaded the village and conducted military searches of homes. Soldiers blocked the entrances and exits of the village and barred the residents from entering or leaving it. Local sources reported that Al Deek is a construction worker; he was working with his father who is a construction contractor, when the soldiers fired at them. more.. Two Hamas members injured as unknown gunmen open fire at rally Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Salfit - Two Hamas members have been injured on Thursday, and a further two bystanders were also injured, when unknown gunmen opened fire at a rally of Hamas supporters. The rally was marking on the anniversary of the establishment of the movement, 20 years ago in the center of Balata refugee camp, outside Nablus in the north of the West Bank. The rally had begun on the main street, after the evening prayers, and was led by several gunmen and people who carried models of Qassam home-made projectiles. As the rally arrived at the center of the refugee camp, anonymous gunmen opened fire at it, injuring two activists, Jabir ’Uweis, 37, and Muhammad Sharay’ah, 27. The injured by-standers remain unidentified. [end] More lands confiscated from Kafr al-Labad, east of Tulkarem Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Tulkarem - Israeli forces have confiscated hundreds of acres of Palestinian lands belonging to the northern West Bank town of Kafr al-Labad, east of Tulkarem. The lands have been confiscated for the establishment of the separation wall around the Israeli settlement of Avne Hefez. Ma’an’s correspondent has visited the location and reported that the lands are planted with olive trees and occupy some 144. 6 dunums (one dunum = 1000 square meters [1/4 acre]). [end] Apparent landmine kills Lebanese soldier YNetNews 12/14/2006 Three additional soldiers wounded in incident, Lebanon declines Israeli offer of aid -- A Lebanese soldier was killed and three additional soldiers were wounded on Thursday afternoon after apparently driving over a landmine or unexploded ordinance along the western sector of the Israeli -Lebanese border. The IDF offered to provide immediate medical treatment to the wounded soldiers via the military liaison division but the offer was declined by Lebanon. The wounded soldiers were then evacuated to a hospital in Sidon. Several weeks ago the UN reported that Israel had planted new landmines in southern Lebanon during the last war, the first time since IDF forces withdrew in 2000. The UN Mine Action Coordination Center in south Lebanon reported their estimation following the injury of two European disposal experts and a Lebanese medic... more.. Clashes at border as Hamas tries to bring in cash The Guardian 12/15/2006 Prime minister forced to leave $35m behind · Israel shuts Gaza crossing to protect finance boycott -- Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian prime minister, was blocked from bringing millions of dollars of desperately needed donations home last night after Israeli forces closed Gaza’s border with Egypt. Mr Haniyeh was only allowed passage through the Rafah crossing after hours of negotiation and after leaving a reported $35m (£17. 8m) in cash behind with aides. The border closure sparked chaotic scenes. More than 1,000 Hamas members stormed the checkpoint, firing into the air as travellers ducked for cover and sparking a gun battle with Palestinian security guards. Two bombs were detonated nearby to blow a hole through the concrete wall on the border. One of Mr Haniyeh’s bodyguards was reported to have been killed.... more.. Casualty report since the abduction of Corporal Shalit Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Gaza - The Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights has issued a report detailing the Palestinian casualties since the abduction of the Israeli soldier, Corporal Gil’ad Shalit. The total number of deaths came to 474, of whom 300 were civilians, including 91 children and 30 women. 405 of the death toll were in Gaza, four of which were from among medical crews. 1616 people have been injured, most of which were civilians, including 338 children and 109 women. 1275 of the injuries took place in Gaza Strip. The report also stated that the Israeli military launched 328 air-to-surface missiles from F16 fighter jets, towards mainly civilian targets. Artillery shells shot into the Strip were also in the hundreds. more.. Two Palestinians arrested in Tulkarem Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Tulkarem - Israeli forces have, on Thursday, invaded the southern neighbourhood of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank, and searched the home of the recently deceased Fida’ Fthi Tirawi, destroying property throughout the building. Ma’an’s correspondent stated that the soldiers insulted the mother of the man, killed by Israeli forces, using filthy language and tore his picture from the wall. Israeli soldiers also invaded the western neighbourhood, and broke into the Tirawi building, firing heavily and throwing sound grenades, before arresting Amin Miskawi, 21, and Ahmad Abu Tamam, 19. [end] Two Gazans seriously injured while "playing" with a suspect device Ma’an News Agency 12/14/2006 Khan-Younis - Two Palestinian citizens, Muhammad Yousif Abu Jazar, 29, and Hasan Bakir, 29, have been seriously injured when a suspect device exploded in the west of Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern