Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Monday January 15th, 2007.|| Copy and paste the link to download MP3 File|| http://portland.indymedia.org/media/media/2007/01/352247.mp3
The executive force of the ministry of interior foiled the kidnapping of foreigners in the southern Gaza Strip, while Israeli army injures one, and abducts fourteen Palestinian men in several parts of the West Bank. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned.
The Gaza Update
The executive force of the ministry of interior foiled the kidnapping of foreigners in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis on Monday. IMEMC correspondent in Gaza reported that the force troops managed to capture 8 gunmen who tried to kidnap the foreigners and surrounded them at the ministry of interior for further investigation.
Palestinian sources reported on Monday that two residents were killed on Sunday evening near the border fence separating between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israeli sources claimed that the two were crawling towards the fence.
An Israeli military source reported that soldiers opened fire at two armed Palestinians crawling towards the border fence. Bullets fired by the soldiers apparently hit explosives crates the two were carrying, setting their explosives off.
The Salah Ed Deen brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees identified the two as Mousa Mohammad Qarmout, 22, and Kamal Khader, 19.
The Committees stated that the two were attempting to plant an explosive charge in Abo Kado area, close to the border fence, east of the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun. Abu Abeer, media spokesperson of the Brigades, warned that the brigades will carry out a fierce battle “with the occupation forces if the army attempts to invade the area”.
The West Bank Update
Ali Issa, 38, a farmer from the village of Um Salamoneh, located south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, was injured on Friday morning when a group of villagers took non-violent action to stop Israeli army troops and bulldozers from destroying their land in preparation for the construction of the illegal Israeli wall.
At least one hundred soldiers with three bulldozers invaded the village and went directly to the village lands that have been owned by the local farmers for generations, and are full of grape vines and almond trees.
However, word got out in the village shortly after soldiers started to uproot trees and bulldoze land, and farmers rushed to the scene and used non-violent methods to stop the bulldozers from destroying the land- which is their only source of income.
Soldiers directly attacked the unarmed villagers and farmers by throwing tear gas and sound bombs at them and attacking some with rifle buts and batons. Medical sources reported some injuries due to fractures and broken bones.
Mohammad Dakatka, the mayor of the village, stated that if the wall construction continues scores of dunams of agricultural land will be annexed behind it and plenty more will be destroyed in the construction of this illegal wall separating the village from the residents' only source of income.
Israeli Forces invaded several cities and villages in different parts of the West Bank and abducted fourteen Palestinian men during an invasion on Monday morning.
In Nablus city in the northern part of the West Bank, a massive Israeli Army force invaded the downtown area of Nablus city and the nearby Balata refugee camp, abducting ten Palestinian men.
Local residents reported that soldiers attacked, searched and ransacked scores of residents' houses in both the city and refugee camp. Palestinian sources in the city added that seven men were taken from the city while another three brothers were taken from the refugee camp.
Among those abducted from the city were Hamed Judah, 16, Omer Arafat, Radwan Swidan, 19, Ayman Al Khali The three brothers who were abducted from Balata refugee camp were identified as Yousif, Adel and Imad Abu Munief.
On Monday morning the Israeli Army also invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin and the nearby Jenin refugee camp and searched several houses. Resident Mohammad Asadi, 37, was taken to an unknown detention camp, his family reported. Residents reported that soldiers fired live rounds and sound bombs heavily at their houses during the invasion. No injuries were reported.
In the meantime, three Palestinian men were abducted by the Israeli Army from villages near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday morning.
Ibrahiem Al Shikh, 32, and Bilal Al Shikh, 22, were both abducted from their houses located in Marah-Rabah village south of Bethlehem when Israeli forces invaded the village and attacked and searched a number of houses. Moreover, Mohammad Hirmas, 20, was abducted after Israeli soldiers attacked his house located in Taqua village west of Bethlehem, his family reported.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining us from Occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today from the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org brought to you by Jake Talhami and Ghassan Bannoura.
