Welcome to this Week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org, for March 26, to April 1, 2016.
As President Abbas announced this week that there is still chance for peace, Israeli attacks targeting Palestinian communities in Gaza and the West Bank leave three injured civilians. These stories, and more, coming up, stay tuned.
The Nonviolence Report
Let’s begin our weekly report as usual with the nonviolent activities organized in the West Bank. many Palestinian were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation as Israeli soldiers attacked nonviolent protests organized in West Bank villages. IMEMC’s Eman Abedraboo-Bannoura with the details :
In central West Bank, nonviolent protests were organized in the villages of Bil’in, Ni’lin and Al Nabi Saleh. Troops used tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets against the unarmed protesters. Both Bil’in and Ni’lin villagers, and their international and Israeli supporters, managed to reach the Israeli wall, built on local farmers lands.
In Al Nabi Saleh, the soldiers attacked the protest at the village entrance. Later troops stormed the village and fired tear gas into residents homes.
Elsewhere, Palestinian and Israeli activists from Combatants for peace movement organized a protest in Biet Jala town near Bethlehem in southern West Bank marking Land Day. Protesters marched along the settlers road 60 and ended their protest by planting olive trees near the street.
For IMEMC News this is eman abed rabbo Bannoura .
The Political Report
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas believes that there is a chance for peace, now, if Israel has the will to. IMEMC’s Rami Al Meghari has more:
In an interview with Israeli channel 2 TV, Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, maintained that peace could be observed soon, once Israel has the will. He said that he hopes to reach peace, before it is too late.
On another issue, Abbas hinted at the possibility that the Palestinian Authority could collapse at any moment.
On the internal front, Palestinian rival parties, Hamas and Fatah of Palestinian president, were reported to have reached an agreement on a number of outstanding points of difference.
In the meantime, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree to reactivate the general elections committee.
For IMEMC News, I am Rami Almeghari in Gaza.
The West Bank and Gaza Report
Israeli navy continued to attack Gaza fishermen this week, in the meantime three Palestinian civilians were injured by Israeli troops attacks in the West Bank. IMEMC’s George Rishmawi Reports:
Israeli troops injured on Saturday two Palestinian youth during clashes that erupted between invading forces and local youth at the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia. Both youth were moved to hospital after sustaining moderate wounds, local Palestinian sources reported.
On Monday morning, Israeli soldiers demolished a home, a playground, electricity and water networks, in addition to uprooting farmlands, belonging to a Palestinian family near Bethlehem city in southern West Bank. the Israeli army claimed they were built without permits.
Moreover, Dozens of Israeli soldiers and police officers, accompanied with personnel of the Jerusalem City Council and the Israel Antiquities Authority, invaded on Tuesday morning the town of Silwan, in occupied Jerusalem, and demolished a playground, a room and several walls.
A Palestinian child was injured on Wednesday midday after being hit by an Israeli army jeep in Khliat Al Mayah community near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
14-year old Nu’man Bassal sustained moderate wounds and was moved to a nearby hospital for treatment in Hebron city. Witnesses said that the boy was going back home riding his bicycle when a military jeep hit him.
Also this week, Israeli forces conducted at least 89 military invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem. During these invasions, Israeli troops kidnaped more than 76 Palestinian civilians, including 27 children.
In the Gaza Strip this week, Israeli navy attacked Palestinian fishermen off Gaza shoreline, in the meantime Israeli forces stationed at the northern and southern borders of Gaza with Israel targeted farmers working in their lands and forced them to leave.
Palestinian sources reported navy and troops attacks on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
For IMEMC News this is George Rishmawi.
Conclusion
And that’s all for today from This Week in Palestine. This was the Weekly report for March 26, to April 1, 2016. From the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For more news and updates please visit our website at www-dot-imemc-dot-org, This week’s report has been brought to you by George Rishmawi and me Ghassan Bannoura.
