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The daily news, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, http://www.IMEMC.org, for Thursday, April 20, 2006.
Army arrests five residents and settlers attack schools students in Hebron. Israeli military in Nablus continue arrests of the family members of ‘wanted’ men.
These stories and more coming up stay tuned
Army arrests five residents near Hebron
Israeli armed forces arrested five residents in pre dawn Thursday invasion of Dura and Ithna villages near the West Bank city of Hebron.
In Dura, troops stormed several houses in the village and arrested Dia’a Awawda, 16, and his brother Mohammed, 13, Issam Al Rjoub, 15, and Waleed Al Hroub, 19, claming that they were involved in stone throwing acts against the army during clashes with the residents late Wednesday night, local sources reported.
Meanwhile another force entered Ithna village and searched several houses and arrested Ahamd Al Tmeizi, 30. Tmeizi was taken to an unknown destination, family members reported.
Settlers attack schools students in Hebron
Israeli settlers, accompanied by soldiers, attacked school students in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday morning.
The attacks occurred in areas adjacent to Tel Rumeida and Beit Hadassa illegal Israeli settlement outposts. Settlers attacked students of the nearby girls’ high school with stones and eggs. Soldiers present at the scene did not take any action to stop the settlers, eyewitnesses reported.
Several people sustained minor injuries, including three internationals, members of the Christian Peace Maker Teams (CPT) who were accompanying the students to school.
CPT volunteers refused to receive medical treatment from Israeli soldiers in protest to their inaction toward the stone-throwing settlers.
Also soldiers stopped and searched students in the old city area in Hebron, claming that the road is a settler-only road, local sources reported.
Israeli military in Nablus continue arrests of the family members of ‘wanted’ men
The Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Nablus continued, on Thursday morning, to arrest the wives and mothers of ‘wanted’ men, in an attempt to ‘bait’ the men into turning themselves in — a practice that has been condemned by international human rights groups.
Soldiers stormed the houses of the women before arresting them and taking them away. Earlier, on Wednesday, soldiers had arrested a number of women, and rearrested them today only a few hours after releasing them, eyewitnesses reported.
Hundreds to protest against planned Wall near At-Tuwani village this Saturday
Hundreds of people are expected to flock to the South Hebron village of At-Tuwani this Saturday, to demonstrate against the planned Apartheid Wall.
The Wall will be built along the settler’s Bypass Road 317. The Palestinian village, supported by the international At-Tuwani team of Operation Dove and Christian Peacemaker Teams, have called for supporters to meet at 11am at the clinic in At-Tuwani.
"The Israeli authorities plan to build an 80m wall along one side of bypass route 317. This wall would severely hinder movement of Palestinians living south of 317 to and from the closest larger population center of Yatta. An Israeli high court case appealing against the wall is currently in process. Despite this, construction continues further along the road towards Susiya village" say the activists.
Elected Mayer of Qalqilia released from jail
The Israeli authorities released the Palestinian Prisoner Wajeeh Qawas, the recently elected Mayer of the West Bank city of Qalqilia, Thursday noon.
Qawas was arrested four years ago and was sent to the administrative jail until his release. Welcoming reception will be held upon his arrival Thursday evening.
Qawwas was elected Mayor while in jail in December of 2005.
Conclusion
And that’s just some of the news today in Palestine. For constant updates, check out the International Middle East Media Center website, http://www.IMEMC.org. As always, thanks for joining us. From Occupied Bethlehem, I’m Terrina Aguilar.
